The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-03
Copyright, 1922, by The Argus.)

Washington, March 3.-President
Harding and John C. Schaffer, pub
Usher of a string of newspapers
three of which are in Indiana, have
reached an understanding about
the political contest between Sen
ator Harry New and former Sena-
tor Beveridge OF Indiana which
throws an interesting light on what
the presidential attitude will be
throughout the nation this year.
Mr.. Schaffer came to the White
house merely to pay his respects,
but inevitably the conversation
turned to Indiana politics. The
president is a warm friend of Sen
ator Harry New, who is seeking re-
nomination, and in his heart hopes
New will win. Mr. Schaffer is a
friend OF both Senator New and
former Senator Beveridge, but be-
lieves the interests of Indiana and
the nation would be served better
by the nomination and election OF
Albert Beveridge.
For weeks it has been said in
Indiana that President Harding
would throw the full weight and
influence of his position to Harry
New and take an active part in the
primary campaign. Friends OF for
mer Senator Beveridge have hoped
Mr.. Harding would remain neutral
and preserve party harmony.
Let People Decide.
The president sketched to MIR.
Schaffer the origin of his deep in
terest in Harry New, their many
years of companionship in the Unit
ed States senate and their earlier
political relations. He made 1t
plain that it would be ungracious
of him to take sides against Mr..
New. On the other hand, the pres
ident said it was his best Judgment
that the people of Indiana-the Re-
publican party ass a whole in that
state-should decide whether they
want Harry New or Albert Bever-
idge, and he was willing to abide
by their Judgment. In other words,
Mr.. Harding promised his full sup
port to Mr.. Beveridge il the latter
is nominated
Mr.. Schaffer. not to be outdone
and insisting that the fight was on
high plane Of intellectual values
to the state and nation OF two con-
tending candidates, promised that
il Harry New were nominated he
would give him his hearty support
in the campaign for election.
Il told President Harding, how
ever" said Mr.. Schaffer, that in
my judgment former Senator Bev-
eridge would win the primary with
out question"
The question Of what president
should do in the primary contests
between members of his own party
is always a ticklish one to decide.
President Wilson intervened as be-
tween Democratic candidates in
Alabama and Georgia at the cost of
bitter criticism inside his own
party. Many presidents have help
ed senators to denomination
through the Vaccinations of party
politics that were not visible to to
the naked eye In the old days
when senators were elected BY
state legislators this was easy TO
manage, but it is not so simple
when the presidential influence has
to be proclaimed to enough party
followers to be effective.
Organization With New.
In Indiana most of the organiZa-
ton men are lining behind Harry
New because they have thought the
president was taking sides. What
the effect will be of Mr.. Harding's
policy of hands off is not easy TO
con lecture, but it looks as if the
formula. of letting the party work
out its own state problems without
interference from the top will be
applied everywhere this year. Mr,
Harding made a speech recently in
which he showed plainly that ne
would rather have the old conyen-
tion system than primaries, but so
long as the latter method is IL
vogue he will stand by the judg-
ment of the people in the primaries.
While here Mr. Schaffer took oc-
casion to refute the impression
that if former Senator Beveritge
came back to the senate he would
be a thorn in the side" OF the
Harding administration.
Aiuttt Destt iuSc Is cur dSeoAS
and Independent and Mr. Harding
would be getting a leader in him
as well as an able senator" said
Mr.. Schaffer
The Indiana fight revive the old
lines of cleavage between progress
sives and regulars in Indiana which
came to a. climax in 1912. 1t is
going to be one of the most inter
esting and significant political coE-