The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-09-19

not little worried over the frequen-
cy OF reports emanating from sources
more or less close to the president,
that Mr.. Harding is determined not
TO stand for denomination in 1924,
Robert Small, a political writer and
well-known newspaper correspondent
at Washington asserts.
Most of the leaders are inclined to
attribute the reports to a temporary
state OF mind on the part of the pres
ident and believe that when the pres
ent tangled condition of national af-
fairs is Strengthened out Mr.. Harding's
optimism will assert itself and he win
consent to run for reelection.
A feeling that the president had not
been wholly happy in the presidency
has permeated Washington for some
time. Now there is reaction through
out the country. The report reached
Ohio during the primary fight, and it
was thought it might affect the admin
istration ticket headed by Carmi
Thompson, but the administration
sweep was complete.
The president for several weeks
past has been palpably tired and par
ticularly sensitive to criticism. The
presidency has been more conhning
than he ever dreamed it might be- For
many years prior to the election in
1920 Mr.. Harding had led very muck
of an outdoor life, being especially
fond of golf and motoring AS sem
ator he was able to live great deal
in the outdoors, as during four years
of his term he was in minority
which had very little to say or do.
Likes to Be Free.
A man of simple manners and SIM
pie tastes, the president unquestion-s
ably has chafed under many of the
restrictions that life in the white house
imposes. 1t often has been said of Mr.
that if he could have had ms
way he would have spent the remain
der of his active political days in the
senate. He was extremely happy there
and it was with no little reluctance
that he consented to allow his friends
to place him in the running for the
presidential nomination in 1920. More
than once during the pre-conventioB
campaign Mr.. Harding thought of
withdrawing from the race and CEN
tering his activities upon reelection
to the senate. 1t will be recalled thai
on the night before his nomination
in Chicago he filed his senatorial prs
mary papers in Columbus. Even al
that late hour there fingered in his
mind the question as to the right
course to pursue. The whirligig OF
fate soon decided that question for
him, and once nominated he entered
into the campaign with the somewhat
solemn enthusiasm of man who felt
the cares of the presidency already
full upon him.
Ever since the word began to spread
that Mr. Harding had told some OF
his friends he would decline to stand
for denomination two years hence all
OF his utterances, both public and pri-
vate, have been searched for some
further revelation of his state of mind
The politicians profess to have found
much in confirmation of the earlier
They point to the presidents speech
during Old Home week in Marion.
His friends in Ohio found that MIR.
Harding did not speak of his expe-
riences in the white house with any
degree OF elation Instead, he publicly
stated he would be glad indeed when
the time came that he might return
to Marion and enjoy the freedom OF
the life OF the private citizen. Not once
did the president intimate that he was
having a bully time" in the white
house.
To Keep EN- Guessing.
Since the Marion trip he has lei
fall, either inadvertently or purposely,
a number of remarks, insignificant in
themselves, perhaps, but which, ia
ken collectively, appear to reflect
distinct frame of mind. To some OF
his senatorial friends the president IS
reported to have said that nothing
could induce him to give four more
years of his life to the presidency
Some senators have taken the remarks
seriously; others say the president was
merely joking.
On top of all this the president sent
to Leonard Kincaide, Terre Haute,
Ind, high school boy, who said he
hoped some day to be president let
ter in which he said: Il am afraid you
would not like my job as much as
you think you would. 1t is not as
happy a job as one would imagine
While they profess to treat the pres
ident's remarks lightly the republican
leaders nevertheless are figuring upon
what they might do in the event Mr..
Harding is serious and really will not
stand Tor denomination.
They simply will not listen to the
idea that the president will not rum
They say that every president wants
a second term as vindication OF his
policies in the first.
Mr.. Harding, on the other hand, be-
lieves that the presidency should be
one-term affair. He would lengthen
the term from four to six years. He
believes the president would have
more freedom under such plan than
is possible under the system which
leads to constant consideration OF sec
ond term prospects.
The indications are today Mr.. Hard
ing IS likely TO keep the politicians on
the anxious seat for some time to
come.