The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-09
|ES|OENT
l|DNOTASk
FORMALLY
/ jIilrre Of Harding to Call
d Wilson Raises Eli
=
auet Question.
Bf DAVID LAWRENCE
i8epecial TO The Argusl

Washington. Dec. 9.--Warren
Isrdins has come and gone and
IL expected conference between
woodrow Wilson and the president
&lect failed to materialize. People
|pay Justly ask why. The truth Of
|ne matter may reveal an unf0rtu-
a.ts hesitancy Of the part Of both
u the gentlemen concerned TO
NE the initiative and a disposi-
|tpa on the part Of each, to stick
~ bis own conception OF the pro-
9isties but the facts are these:
White House officials let it be
hown to newspapermen several
hys ago that the president would
~ glad to see Senator Harding"
NJ hint was promptly taken and
Jsblished broadcast. 1t reached
o. ears of the president-elect.
Senator Harding considered
whether he ought to accept or ig-
|0ss the informal roundabout sort
n an invitation. He finally told
hiends he would merely leave mis-
afds and pay his respects unless
~ received formal invitation or
olrect request to come to the exec
utve mansion for q conference.
The president-elect would have
gAdly accepted an invitation II he
I'D been given one. He hesitated
lw this reason. He really did not
Lnow whether the president wanted
" ~ him. He remembered incl
dsaAlly that Of all the messages
II generalization received after
he election returns came in, in
rlding a message from Gov. Cox
himself, not a word came from the
Nhits House. Senator Harding has
iold friends he Is at . loss to undsr
Eaad 1t
=, a. Trace o.. .Concern..
Indeed. it may be said that back
Mr. Harding's declination OF the
Attleship rendered him by the
Dsesident for the cruiss to Panama
vas . trace Of concern over the
hilure Of MIR. Wilson to- send any
songratulatory message. OF course,
shen the "Mayflowey" was offered
the trip to Warrington from
Bmpt0n Roads, the st0p at Bed
pefd, Va, made q rail journey un-
avo.dable and the "Mayfio0er" sim
couldn't have been as convenient
the battleship might, however,
lase been accept I'd but for the won
ter in the mind of Mr.. Harding As
y the absence of any congratula-
'ofy message from Mr.. Wilson, Tae
Rblic may have lost sight OF the
net but Senator Harding didn't.
II will be recalled that Charles
Evans Hughes didn't send con-
mtulatory message to Mr.. Wilson
tHer election in 1916 but that was
ecause there was some doubt
bout the result, and finally Mr.
hughes did send a telegram. How.
ner this time there was no doub,
soout the returns.
Explain Wilson's Stand.
In defense of President wilson's
aaitude in the matter. some of his
Rriends venture the suggestion thai
ae did not feel that he could extend
@nsratulations with any degree o.
ancereity and that he didn't wan
seem hypocritcak about it. IL
~ \ congratulate you on yOnl
Victory over us" would have beer
Inconsistent with an honest mind
|I is asserted, but then othel
trends wonder why the pres
ment simply confine his message Il
.he expression of hope that Amer
iea would profit by the Harding ad
u'n.stratlon and that Mr.. Harding
would b, successful.
The Incident is important In tina
prevented asfrank and full dis
sussion by the outgoing presiden
md the incoming president Of SOM
p The most perplexing problems il
lae nations history. Ii is true tina
Fesid ants-elect do not always con
sr with the man who is still in TIN
shfe House after election day bu
hecedents have been broken in re
ant years ,becaase Of the extraor
anary character of the problems
zoe the government. Indeed
eere will have to be many a con
lsfence between department head.
the incoming and outgoing ad
histration in the interest Of goot
sernment and the hope was tina
: Two chiefs would set an ex
pie for their associates. 1t ma!
come to pass but this much j.
Ex-senator Harding will no
conference with Presiden
silson but will attend one II he il
1sonally invited.