The New York herald., 1921-03-13
HOW DAUGHERTY
HELPED HARDING
WIN NOMINATION
New Attorney General Tells
of Quiet. but Effective
Organization.
A MODEST CANDIDATE
Showed No Eagerness to En-
ter Fight Until Friends
Pressed Him.
WIZARDS AIMS HIGH
Says He Hopes to Build Up q
Real Department OF
Justice.
~ DONALD MAC GREGoR.

special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK iizs3LrS
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., March II.
lii tile final analysis 16,1ie,SSo peo-
pie had hand in putting Warren 9.
Harding into the Presidency, but al
though that staggering figure repre-
sents the total Republican vote OF
last November, the credit Is due
primarily to Harry NJ Daugherty, the
rev Attorney-General of the United
States.
Daugherty-practical suave, to whom
major league politics is a pastime-sat
dragging away at a black brier pipe In
his apartment night or two ago as
he told the story Of how it all hap
pened.
when did the Harding Presidential
boom begin?" the Presidents closest
friend and adviser repeated. You
might as well ask me where the Mis-
sissippi River starts. ] don't really
know. j should say, offhand, 1t was
about five years ago, maybe a little
longer ago than that.
Il first met Mr.. Harding about
twenty-five years ago-in Marion. I
had gone there TO deliver political
speech, and this young fellow Harding
appeared as a candidate for the ONO
state Senate. He was green and awk-
ward. don't really recall what kind
Of q. speech he made, but in spite OF
Ills greenness and aHkwardness liked
him immensely. Ifo had that sincere
attractiveness about him that he still
possesses; you couldn't help but ad-
mire his way.
ssHc Made y Good Senator"
Harding came down TO Columbus 70
the Senate, and saw more OF him lie
took an interest in politics, OF course.
and 50 did l. IT'S one OF the rules IN
Ohio that in order to be good citizen
you've got to talle an interest in politics.
It's part or a mans duty Of citizenship.
"rrhe high points OF the record are
fairlv well known, the time that
Harding was elected Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor and then became candidate Tor
Governor. He was defeated that year,
in 1910. although no did not deserve 10
be- Ii was a matter or state conditions.
III always seemed TO me that he ought to
lave 4 chance to remove the stain from
his record. and so the opportunity ar
rived when there came an opening three
years later as a candidate for the United
states Senate. / felt he could be elected
III he could win the nomination. and he
was elected BY a large vote.
well, 1t gave him the opportunity.
4e made good Senator. but at no time
No until the last few months oi MS SER
vice IN Washington did the matter OF th8
presidency enter as q consideration. lFo
vas developing as national figure
ana 7 had in the back Of my head the
opinion that lie would make a strong
candidate for the Presidency and a good
President
On the autumn OF 1919. think X
vas early in November, or perhaps y
was the latter part OF October, got on
tho train and came 70 Washington. !
saw Harding and talked IL over with
him. He seemed to be indifferent about
tho matter, but he did not turn down
the proposal that ho authorize the use
or his name as q candidate.
ut was then, really, that the germ of
the idea began. ] made a second trip 70
Washington and gayo an interview to
tho newspaper men, which was published
generally. In this / outlined what sort
of man I believed should be President,
called attention 70 tho widening OF the
breech between Congress and the Exec
utiSe said the President should be
man who would accept tho counsel OF
House and Senate and other leaders, ana
mentioned other qualifications, and
wound Il IN with the mention Of my be-
lief that Senator Harding fulfilled those
qualifications. My purpose in this was
to learn tho reaction from the country
j. attracted some favorable comment
and gave me encouragement.
This statement was followed Up soon
afterward with another visit to Wash
ipgton. in which talked with number
or leaders Of tho Republican party. IN
order TO ascertain what they thought OF
the idea OF tho proposed candidacy.
That, too gave some encouragement.
Harding knew nothing Of this visit.
Ohio Always Hns a Man.
my next talk with him about the
matter was IN Ohio. more than month
afterward. II was, / am srre, during
ono OF the Congressional recesses--just
after Thanksgiving. AZ recall. Harding
called me up on tho telephone from
Marion and came over to Columbus for
talk
I'VE sat IN my den until O'Clock in
the morning discussing the situation. I
explained 20 him that he had the quail
ficatlons as p candidate and that while
did not wish 70 urge him TO enter the
race. I felt that he had nothing TO lose
by entering Ohio always has had a can
didate for President at every convention
and wo laughngly agreed that the coua-
try might get the idea that Ohio wGs
seeding from the Union IL she failed on
this occasion.
Although we sat Up until two O'Clock
nothing was agreed TO then. took the
position that while believed it would
he wise for Harding to DO a candidate
that ] ought not. for various rensonE
become his manager said I would
m available 10 give such help as |
could, but that so far az managing a
campaign was concerned I would not
attempt it. You see. have been ac-
tive in Ohio politics for long time.
and have expressed preferences to an
oytent where ! have made enemies. /
have always felt that II was q mans
duty 70 stand for definite things
Harding hesitatcd.
what time are you going 10 be n
your oiilce in tue morning. he asked
toost 9.30. told him
A..er had gotten down to tic Of
ice Harding came ia and sat down