The Washington herald., 1922-08-14
c. 0. P. CHIEFS FEAR.
POLITICAL EFFECT
OF GREAT STRIKES
See Tendency to Blame
Administration for In
dustrial Strife.
comttrned From Page One.

COUttWbto FfU" Eu0c OWc.
important bearing on the 1924 Presi-
Dental compaign. II the Repub-
iicans retain control of Congress.
President Harding will stili have an
opportunity to carry out his pro-
gram and to dissipate any question
off his denomination. II the Re-
publicans lose the House. the Presi-
dents plans will be defeated by
Democratic obstruction In the next
Congress-; Mr.. Harding will be beset
by insurgency In his own party bent
upon retiring him as "one-termer,"
and the Democrats will lake on a
new lease OF life founded on the
hope OF dividing their foes
From the viewpoint of cold. DO
iitical expediency. could wish that
Cox had won in 1890" said a Re-
publican Senator. who thinks he
has a chance of landing the Re-
publican nomination in 1924 in the
event Mr.. Harding should not be
renominated. Then the Democrats
would have had to handle the re-
construction and defiation problem.
They would have had to liquidate
the enormous extravaganza Of their
own war administration. They
would have been blamed for hard
times and strikes. They would have
been thoroughly discredited in the
1929 election, and we would come
back in 1924 with clear sailing
ahead
Test In Maine EIeetfon.
The administration will be on
trial in the November election and
the result will be the popular ver-
dict. The fortunes OF candidates
closely identified with the admins
tration will be materially affected
by the popular estimate of the
Harding regime.
The first test OF the standing of
the administration will be afforded
by ehe Maine election next month.
in which Senator Hale, an intimate
friend of the President, is seeking
reelection. The Republicans will
have an army of speakers In Maine
in the next, two or three weeks
and will spare no effort to gain com
fort from the adage, "As Maine
goes. so goes the country"
In the latter days OF the mine
and coal strikes there have been
several deve lopments which cast
light on the manner In which Presi-
dent Harding approaches. and may
be expected to approach In the fu-
ture. an industrial crisis.
Foremost among these has been
the quietus suddenly placed upon
reports of contemplated drastic
action" legislation permitting Of
Seizure of the railroads." etc, etc.
great quantities OF which rumors
have been circulated by adminis-
tration officials throughout the long
strike.
Mr.. Harding Is absolutely COM
mitted against government owner
ship or operation Of such basic
Industries as the railroads and
mines. Countless of his speeches
emphatically testify to this. His
administration from the outset has
gone forward on the theory that
there must be and shall be less
government in business. Retreat
from this position, therefore. could
be expected only as last resort
in a time of extreme emergency.
sFeelers- Meet Setback.
Last week, there emanated a few
inspired remarks from authorita-
many such "feelers" passed out
during the strike crises-that the
administration was considering q
brand-new variety of drastic ac-
ton" to handle the impasse. Just
about the time this report began
getting splendid momentum. with
emphasis on the possibility of seiz-
Ing the railroads. certain progress
sive elements in the Presidents Of
fetal family made these observa-
tions:
1. That the railroad shopmen. now
definitely reinforced in spirit at
least, by the Big Four" brother
hoods. had defeated the original pur-
poses of the rail executives to beat
down the unions in this fight.
2. That, with equipment damaged
and facing a trying situation in en-
deavoring to handle the expected
business Of the country this far.
the railroads might well look with
favor upon the government taking
over the lines and letting the people
pay for the repairs and a final dole.
in addition. ssuch as followed war
81