Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-13
President Harding's
Chances To Return
,Progressives To Make Things Hot
For Old Guard In Next Election
Harding May Decline.
(Ry Isaac Gregg)

q
Washington, Nov. 1S.-Will Presi'
dent Harding be the nominee of the
Republican party in 1924
This is the question which Repub-
lican politicians who have returned
to Washington since the election last
/ Tuesday are asking themselves ana
# must be said that they have not as
vet found an answer 10 the interro,
/ cation. 1t would seem as if the r.
suits of the election have completely
changed the political aspects of
things throughout the country and
placed those who control the desti-
MES of the party in rather particu'
lar light.
There is not the slightest doubt but
that the progressive element in the
Republican party, headed by such
men as Senators Borah. of Idaho,
Johnson, of California, La Toilette,
of Wisconsin, and Norris, of Nebras-
ka, are going to make all the trouble
for The Old Guard within the next
two years that it is in their power TO
DO so and they viii want vo,-e IN
tn selection of the neYt candidate tc
be nominated by the Republican Ma
tioal Convention.
The conservative wing of the party,
headed by Senator Lodge, Of MasSa,
cnusetts, who barely escaped defeat
on election day, feels that President
Harding is the only man who can
bring the various factions Of tie
party together and these co1serva-
tives hold to the opinion that unless
the President is renominated there
will be no chance Tor success at inc
pools.
On TIE other hand. there is S)lne
talk heard in Washington juss at
this time that the President ms gh-
not care to make another campaign
for the Presidency Some of his clos
est advisers declare that he feels that
he will have had enough honor from
the people Of the country after wind
ing out his four years term ana that
he will not again accept rencmlna-
ttion even if it is rendered to him.
He has discovered since he has been
in the White House that being Chief
Exeucutive of the greatest nation
on the face of the earth is no child's
play and he has b4an compelled 20
face many problems that should
nave been solved nv his Cao'nes
members and leaders in both Senate
and House. In addition to this, Mrs.
Hardiug is anything but we'll wo-
man and the President has not ben
able to give the attention to her that
he feels should be given owlLg to
his many arduous official duties.
The sweeping Democratic gains IN
the late election indicate that the
people Of the country have grown
tired Of the party in power and de-
sire q change, and it is not believed
thst this feeling will have changed to
any extent by the time the Preslden-
tial campaign rolls around two years
bece. President Harding. it Is felt,
would not care to be the party's NOM
;nee IL he felt that there would be
little if any chance Of his being elect
ed. He would much rather pass that
empty honor to someone else, It ls
believed and go out of the White
House TO private life without the
stigma of a defeat to carry along
with him.
Of course, while it is a little bit
early to yet to discuss Presidential
candidates, there is not the slightest
doubt that the leaders of the Repub-
iicsn party find themselves in very
much of a tRngle lust at present
There are bound to be many changes
in the party's leadership between
now and the peIt Presidential cam
rsign. The old war horses, sucH us
Lodge, Of Massachusetts,. New, OF In
diana, and other conservative ele,,
ments In the party will be completed
TO take back seat and the more
progressive members Of he. party
will be heard from within the next
two years ,..-4
But il the same spirit OF dlsguSt
With the party in power is manifest
by the voters two years hence as
was displayed on Tuesday last, 1t
makes but little difference whom the
Pepublicans put up as the Presiden'
tial candidate. With the Democrats
nominating the right kind OF a man.
they will sure be successful on cleo
ttop dAv