Evening star., 1920-07-15
HARDING ADVISERS
IN DOUBT ON PLAN
TOSTAY ON PORCH
Some Urge Him to "Take to
Road" Others Will 0p-
pose Suggestion.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

TO hike or not to hike" is the prob
lem causing Candidate Harding and
his managers a lot of trouble just
now. Whether he shall. as at first
contemplated, remain on his own
front porch, or fare forth and. push
his fortunes before the curious multi
tude is a vexatious question. with
arguments galore on each side
Some Of his advisers. men of sa-
gacity in party councils. urge him to
take the road. They argue that he is
unknown to the public west of the
Muskingum river and that it be-
hooves him to get acquainted and
made himself popular. "He looks like
President" is the remark frequently
made of him. and it is contended that
his presidential pulchritude and dig
nified bearing will instill confidence
In him with the people and make
friends for him.
mo! no! no. vehemently protests
the other side: "stay home and keep
OUT OF pitfalls" they clamor. as they
shudderingly remember the horrible
fate which befell Charles E. Hughes
when he allowed partisan factions to
lnveigle him into the meshes of local
lights in California. 1t gives them
goose hesh yet when they think of it.
Eagerness Excites Suspicion.
Another thing; the overweenine
eagerness of the democratic manage
ment to induce. bully or entice Candi-
oase aarding from under his own vine
ana ng tree excites suspicion among
the leaders who oppose his going.
The democrats have declared that
tney would yet find a way to force
Harding out. and the more eager the
democrats are to toll him Off the
more determined the resolve of the
leaders to keep him at home.
II Is known here that the sentiment
at republican headquarters in Chi
cago, where are located Senator New.
Fred upham, A. T. ,Hert. Joseph B.
heatlng. David Mulvane and the other
wise old foxes of the party manage
ment. is unanimous against his taking
the stump. The demand for his ap-
pearance before the public comes from
some of the enthusiastic younger men
in the west, who want to bolster up
their local organizations.
In the past few days, apprehension
had been felt that the cross-hre of
remark and retort between Dayton
and Marion might turn into a mutual
jawing match" between the candi-
dates, and there was some concern
here over the situation. Senator Hard
ing has .dissipated that feeling by his
that he does not propose
to be drawn into joint debate over
the wires with the opposfti0i7s faislli-
date. 1t is not expected, however, that
he will submit to serious attack with
out replying. Republicans here count
upon his passing up inconsequential
pleasantries. however biting, but re-
senting anything that goes to the
essentials of the Campaign.
Speech Next in ImpOrtance.
The next event of Importance in the
republican situation will be the speech
of acceptance of the candidate, which,
of course, will be delivered in ad-
ment. In addition to its value as the
last word in party policies. elaborat-
ing, specifying and blue printing the
platform, the speech of acceptance is
recognized as having bearing of pro-
found Importance upon the expected
hearty cooperation of the progressive
wing of the party with the old line.
1t will afford the occasion for Can
didate Harding to mitigate. If not re-
move, the charge that the party is to
follow in the footsteps of the reac-
tionaries and the old guard. That is
ammunition at present. Nothing in
his private or public career can be
found to his detriment, republicans
claim, and the opposition must fall
back on that one allegation. His
speech, they declare, should furnish
refutation of it.
There are others waiting for that
speech, also Senator Hiram Johnson
and the treaty irreconcilables. Sem
ator Johnson is visioned by some as
standing smilingly in the republican
doorway, but with his hands on the
knob. prepared possibly to retreat IL
the candidates utterances on the
treaty and the league of nations do
not come up to his requirements.
Picture Called Unjust.
Many republicans think Senator
Johnson is done an injustice by such
q nicture. They declare there has
been nothing in his attitude or pub
lie utterances to warrant the sug-
pestion that he will not carry through
with the republicans, as he said he
would all along. To be sure. he would
ha better pleased and possibly more
enthusiastjc the closer the candi-
dates speech conformed to his well
known position.
At Chicago, the other day, among
the responsible leaders, the feeling
nreyailed that Senator Johnson will
fnd the speech of acceptance to his
Hing and that he will come through
100 per cent in his support of the
ticket and, what is equally important.
hing his friends with him. In 1916
he himself supported the ticket, but
his followers did not. This time, IT is
haI;eyed from the outlook now, that
thew will come along.