Evening star., 1922-10-28
It Seems Too Early to Discuss a
Second Term.

The statement by Attorney General
Daugherty that President Harding
had not decided to eliminate himself
from consideration as a candidate for
denomination attracted considerable
editorial attention because of the
close relationship between the two
men. In some quarters it was as
sumed that the announcement really
was directed at Gov. Miller of New
York and other potential presidential
timber. whose friends have been
sounding their praises as possibili-
ties But, generally. it was agreed
that there was no need to consider
the Harding plans and aspirations. Or
lack Of them, at this time.
ANY man serving his first time In
the presidency. We suspect. has his
moments Of depression. when he longs
to be well out of it," argues the
Columbus State Journal (republican).
THE burdens are terrible, the crtti-
cism Is whitening, the discourage
ments are grinding. The trials of the
Office are crushing. but the honor and
the power are great and he would be
a rare man. indeed. who. having at
tanned the presidency. would volun-
tarily lay it aside. President Hard
ing's health seems to be standing the
strain we'll and he probably knows
that most of the fierce denunciations
Of his administration are not aimed
at him personally. but at Congress
and its record and at some few Of
the men he has about him. He has
his own enemies and detractors, OF
course. but there is reason to believe
that his own personality is generally
liked by the people" There Is a be-
Gazette independently that "Mr. Daugh-
erty speaks up and the administra-
lion watches the trial balloon" and
the Gazette holds that "if Mr.. Hard
ing finds that there is healthy de-
mand for a second term he Is human
enough to shape his course toward
that goal.
'On the other hand. he is no fighter
and is less in love with his job. proba-
bly,, than any other President we
shave had for some time. If he be-
comes convinced that there is but
slight demand for him to lead the
will heave a sigh Of relief and begin
to think of the good times coming
at Marion" The Minneapolis (Minn.)
Morning Tribune (republican) is an
other paper which listens attentively
to what Mr.. Daugherty said. because
he has been very close to the Presi-
In fact, that his appointment to the
post he now holds was criticized as
the payment of a personal political
debt. If at the end Of another year
or so 1t should be generally deemed
that the Harding administration has
been notably successful. it Is almost
inevitable that the republican party
would feel like drafting the Presi-
dent to run again II he were not
volunteer 1t is in line with the Pres
idcnt's utterances for him to say that
if his administration does not meas
day 1t should be replaced by another.
Like all his predecessors, President
Harding has made his mistakes. but
the fair thing is to wait and see how
the ledger of debts and credits
stands year from lssn,;Ianf next spring and m,
politics." that led the President to
purchase his family's old farm prop
erty at Blooming Grove, Ohio. the
Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel (repuhlt-
CAM holds that it was unfair to
sssfibe an intention OF se to
gests, further, possibly the President
has made up his mind to retire. More
likely, he does not care to cross any
bridges until he comes to them. But
1t shows that PfeSldent must DC
careful about dabbling in real es-
tate" The Des Moines Register (tn-
dependent republican, feels that the
president made his Fundamental
mistake when he allowed himself to
be misled by the apparent reaction
from Wilson. Secretary Hughes made
q much more grievous mistake. They
both caught at the apparent repudia:
tion of Wilson as a reputation OF
the Wilson program. Events have
not gone their way. In fact, nearly
everybody can see that we must
carry through in our relations to
Europe along the line we laid out
when we went into the war. The sit
uation will be steadily more embar-
RAISING for both Harding and Hughes
in the coming two years. The Presi-
dent Of the United States should be
what the premier Of Britain ia
leader. A man who does not have q
plan Of his own and tho talent to
persuade others to follow that plan
should never be President" Still, any
formal announcement of any sort
would be unwise, the Detroit Free
Press independently says. and un-
warranted by the existing facts.
while the Altoona Mirror (inde-
pendent) believes that friends Of
Gov. Miller Of New York and others
afe behind the rumors that Mr. Hard
king will not run for q second term.