Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-12
President
Delves Into
Politics
Close Teamwork Expected Be
tween Administration and
National Committee Since
Reorganization.
Pass Buck to Congress
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

Washington, June II. - (Spe
cial Telegram. President Harding
by way of variety and change from
the long routine of international and
domestic problems he has been con.
sidering recently, made a brief ex-
cursion into national politics this
week. The occasion was afforded
by the meeting in Washington OF
the national committee of the re-
publican party to select chairman
and change of representation in ma
tional conventions. After a day
spent over these details the com.
mitteemen and committeewomen en-
joyed an evening at the White House
with President and Mrs. Harding.
The president, however, had for a
day or two been conferring privately
with individuals and groups OF the
committeeman and getting first
hand information as to political and
other conditions in the country at
large.
Let it not be understood that the
chief executive is not keeping a wary
eye on politics. While he is the
president of all the people, and not
OF the republican party alone. at the
same time majority, to the extent
of some 100000 people, voted for
him for president as the head OF the
republican party, and he is carrying
the banner of that political organiza-
ton. While he is glad to be the
president of all the people he pre-
fers to be such under the auspices of
the republican party and exponent of
its policies.
Will Keep Posted.
President Harding made careful
and diligent inquiry of those national
committeeman with whom he talked
about affairs in their respective states.
He intends, it is said, to keep him
self posted at all times on the vary
ing political phases of the times.
There promises to be close team
work between the administration
and the national committee from
now, following the reorganization of
the executive management of the
committee. Postmaster General
Hays and Attorney General Daugh-
frty will be in the executive coun-
ellis of the national committee and
will form closer connecting link
between the administration and the
committee. TIE new chairman of
the national committee. Governor T.
Adams. proposes to spend great
deal of his time at national head
quarters here and he will be in
touch with the government heads
and the congressional leaders.
The politicians are already passing
the responsibility up to the republic
an congress and camping by nights
on the trail of the leaders, urging.
them to extraordinary exertions to
do something"
Up to Congressman.
The argument put forward by the
national committeeman who were
here last week, TO the congressman
was something like this: I'VE poll
t,cians did the trick for you con-
gressmen last fall and rolled up
record republican majority. 1t be-
hooves you to pick, up the burden
now and come through with re-
Spouse to the known demands OF
the voters for relief. We promised
returning prosperity, and it is in
cumbent upon you to make it come"
Which constitutes line of argu-
ment appreciated by the congress
men as but adding to their anxieties
without affording enlightenment as
to the ways and means for palliating
them
Will II. Hays, the retiring chair
man of the national committee. in
his swansong, caused cold chill Of
apprehension to run down the spine
OF the committeeman. and OF several
congressman who were participating
in the committee meeting on proxies
.of absentee embers. when he some
what sharply reminded them "that
no majority is necessarily permanent
and that certainty of continued sue
cess comes only with certainty OF
performance"
Majority No Alibi.
He also pointed out that "a seven
million majority is large, but if is
not an alibi for the mistakes, negli-
gence and extravaganza Of misgov-
ernment" He held that I'VE have
our opportunity but there is a con-
sequent proportionate accountable
ty that is very properly inevitable"
Indeed. the visit of the national
committee to the capital at this time,
in all its attendant features, may be
regarded as constituting an effort
at bracing up of the legislative and
administrative branches of the gov
ernment as controlled by the repub-
licans, for the benefit of the party at
large
President Harding is said to be
interested in observing the reaction
in the country over the national
committees move to iron out some
of the inequalities or representation
in national conventions. He is as
sumed to stand by the committee
in what it did in this direction. al
though it is stated authoritatively
that he did not interfere with the
subcommittee work.
Report Accepted.
The report of the subcommittee
was presented with a unanimous
Recommendation in its favor. This