The Alaska daily empire., 1920-08-20
Reflected Glory
(Dearborn Independent)


 It appears to be quite common these days tof political candidates to bask in reflected glory and to ask for votes the ground that they look like or behave like believe in. the acts and policies of someone else General Wood and Hiram Johnson claimed be second editions of Theodore Roosevelt and Nir IIarding's friends busy filling the press with the intimaton that the successful Re publican candidate is second William Mckinley.
 We think Mr Harding's friends doing him no kindness,l'ialthoughH they probably mean well For in the first place, it is compliment to candidate to nfef lie has so little personality of his own that it is necessary for him to borrow the mantle of dead hero; and in the second place. it be an exceedingly unwise expedient in this because Senator Harding cannot possibly sustain the parallel thus drawn.
 William Mckinley a of great political experience He served many years in Congress in capable governor of Ohio before beginning his term of service in the House and he had the advantage of having served in the Civil War His name was inseparably linked with the issue of his time the protective tariff-and this party policy of which he the recognized champion, lent itself readily to popular imagination Because of his lead ershp in this regard Labor looked upon him the defender of ''the full dinner pail" To capital was veriable Horatius at the bridge behind whose protecting buckler the infant industries of America could expand without moestation from the products of cheap European labor.
 Senator Harding and this is said in no spirit of unkindliness, practically unknown to the coun- try on the day he nominated. Thousands asked, Who is Harding? What has he done?"
 Before he elected to the United States Sen a that of the State Legislature and the Lieutenant Governors chair. He has been in the Senate five years and in that time his has been tached to associated with piece of important legislation. He has headed important commit tees; he has led fights for against single moral economic issue and his few speeches the floor have earned him but little notice.
 It may be that the Republican nominee has a strength of character which goes far deeper than his record would to indicate. It may be that under the somewhat placid exterior which he turns to the world there the qualities for wise, firm leadership. But in any event it would be better taste if Senator Hardings friends permitted him to run on his own qualifications instead of those of of the nations martyred Presidents.
 Finally, the few sidelights available on Seantor Harding would indicate that he is of the last men who would seek to profit by the effulgence of anOthers name. Three years his mentioned on the floor of the Senate who had ambition to occupy the White House Without hesi- tation the Senator from Ohio and replied "I should like it said. since this question has been raised that 1 think too well of my country to wish one of such incapacity in so exalted place"
 There is good, homely modesty about that statement which does Senator Harding more credit than all the attributes of greatness to which his press agents make him pretender.