The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-20
ONE Term ENOUGH
President Harding May Not
Run Again, Is Report.
Possibility Much Discussed
Topic in Washington.
WIFE'S ILLNESS A WORRY
Admits the Job Isn't What It's
Cracked Up To Be.
Leaders Say He'll Run and
Time May Bring Change.

Washington, Sept, 2O.-Discussion
ofs THE possibility of President Hard
ing not asking a second term, either
of his party or of the American peo-
pie, has increased vastly since Mrs.
Harding's severe illness.
: In fact, were it not such an unpre-
cedented prospect, coupled with the
knowledge of the certain political
pressure that will be brought to gain
his consent to be a candidate again,
many here, including some intimate
friends of the president, would regard
il no longer as possibility, but a
Acertainty. They base this belief on
what they know about the way Mr..
Harding felt about the burden of the
presidency before Mrs. Harding be-
came so ill. And knowing the devo-
ton that exists between the executive
and his wife, and that her breakdown
IInuu stionably was aggravated by the
strain of being the first lady of the
land,"- many believe Mr.. Harding
cares less than ever for being presi-
dent again.
AS far as Washington knows gem
orally the president has not said he
will Or will not run again in 1924. AS
all presidents before him have done,
when worn down by the cares of the
presidency, he has made references
from time to time to the joy with
retir-f to private life. But when the
time came to leave the White House
Railways found the occupant DESTROYS
of vtndication and holding on-as
long as the people were willing. In
Mr. 'Ifardfng's case there is not the
slightest doubt of the sincerity OF
what he may say along that line, and
he has told his worries to his friends.
The only question is whether, when
1924 comes, he will be like all the
others, or make a precedent and quit
OF his own accord
ii+- ~, Sick of His job.
attOften it is heard here, in the talk
that is ceaseless about every Presi-
dent that Mr.. Harding is sick of his
Job 1t isn't 50 much that he is sick
of Il, as he probably cares less for all
the burdens of the presidency than
any man who has sat in the White
House, in modern years at least. And
be II said that no President, including
woodrow Wilson with all the strain
of conducting the war, has had much
tougher problems before him than are
being laid continuously before Mr..
To senatorial friends, Mr.. Harding
has made no secret of his opinion that
being President wasn't all it was
cracked up to be. And when the
over the lack of success in bringing
the Industrial war to an end, Mr..
Harding did not shut his ears to it.
The volume of discomfort and criti-
cisyn was a disappointment. At any
rate, Mr.. Harding has not tried to
minimize it to himself. He always
recognizes it frankly in talking things
over with his friends and recognizes
it as one of the things that go along
with the presidency. He gets comfort
out of the thought If people under
stood the difficulties they would not
be so free with their knocks.
VIII Run, Say Leaders.
Airs. .Harding's illness, of course,
has. been. a terrific strain and worry to
hfrn,I /. IL it were a question of her
hea!tlLand second term, there isn't a
particle of doubt what course the
President would follow. But two years,
Provided she can lay aside much of
the burden she imposed on herself in
the way of entertainment and seeing
callers, may find her much better and
not an element in the decision.
The subject sometimes comes up at
the many political dinners. The party
leaders say. he will run; that party
has nothing except the Presidents
record on which to go before the peo-
PIE in a presidential race. In other
words. it would be up to him to make
the race for his party, whether he