The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-02
Republican Friction GiUes
 Democrats Continual Joy
Roper Quits Prohibition Enforcement Job After Making Important Decisions in Interpreting the
 Dry Statute
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

toriais written by Senator Harding, as editor of a Marion, O., newspaper, in 1 1912, editorials in support of William
 Howard Taft, and bitterly critical of the | late Col. Roosevelt. It is alleged that
 in these editorials, Senator Harding, l dwelling on the split in republican ranks
 developed by Roosevelt when he failed to secure the nomination, referred to the organizer of the Buu Moose aggregation
 as another Aaron Burr. Because of such references. the present day progressive" ! who regards Roosevelt as worthy to
 march with the saints. characterizes Senator Harding as a modern Judas ls- cariot.
 1 MT. Eagle, it is learned from very trustworthy sources, sent the editorials to the local headquarters of Senator Hi- ram Johnson of California, presidential candidate of the ''progressive' persu- asion. It is understood that Senator Johnson despite his Knowledge of He harm that the publication of such edi- torials would work for Senator Harding, declined through his own personal ac- tvity, to make them public. Neverthe- Hess, there was 'leak,' and the fact that Harding, only eight years ago, so bitterly regarded the late Col. Roosevelt. is being worked overtime" in various . ''progressive'' camps. including those striving for the nomination of General Wood.
 Inasmuch as the ''progressives" were never deeply enamoured of Harding, it is declared that the revelation vii result in his complete elimination as an ef-
 fective or even hopeful, candidate. If
 Harding is indeed removed from the
 arena-if his antagonism of Roosevelt
 prompts c. 0. P. bosses to select an- other candidate-Governor Lowden of T.
 linois will unquestionably profit, for 1t
 is stated conclusively that Senator Pen
 rose will tolerate the nomination of neither Johnson or Wood.
 While the effort of "progressives to undo Harding because of his anti-Roose- welt attitude in 1912, is the livest. be- cause the latest, development in the pre- convention chapter of unpleasantnesses it is by no means the only straw ln- dicating lack of harmony in republican circles. Because of the apparent forward movement in recent days of the Johnson campaign, the conservative wing, termed ''standpat" and "reactionary," is re- doubling the energy of it's gunning for the Californian. For Johnson was per haps a more potential contributing agency to republican defeat in lsie than Harding was in 1912. He has never been able to explain how it happened that in 1916, he carried California for the sen ate by a majority approximating aV- OO0. and suffered the democratic presi- dential candidate, Woodrow Wilson, to uin that state-and the election-by ma ioritv of 5000 The "standpatters' de- clare that in order to display his own strength as compared with that of re actionary,'' although that 'reactionary was the presidential candidate of the re- publican party, the senator deliberately pricked the Charles E. Hughes balloon whenever he had occasion to approach it.
 still another unfortunate angle is preci- inflated by the declared intention of Sena- tor Moses. managing the campaign si General Wood, to disregard the so-cancd "favorite son'' prerogative of having fair and clear field in his own baiiiwick. Under the programme as announced Dy the manager, General Wood will enter the primaries in Ohio, West Virginia and H. linois the home states of Senator Hard ing, Senator. Sutherland and Governor Lowden, respectively.
 < Tn extentuation, Senator Moses de- clares the opposing candidates have formed themselves into political en- tente cordiale for the undoing of Wood aby by such tactics would exclude the people, alleged to be clamoring for Wood' from an opportunity to give free rein to, the impulses of their hearts
 So the struggle continues, and demo- crats give vent to expressions of sno indignant regret In the meantime, they are. on the surface, at any rate, happy family undivided and indivisible- Only in Georgia are there democratic candi- dates. Elsewhere, every man is an on looked in Venice