The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-05
|. ]. p. DEPENDS ON HARDIN t ID WIN FALL ELECT|ON NS
Democrats Admit Popularity of President Will Be Hard to 0vercome--C Congress Has
 Been Failure
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age Herald,
 800 Davidson Building.

OOU OANIuson Duuuink Washington, March 4.-(Special.)- The republican party Is depending exclusively on the personality and popularity of Warren G. Harding, President of the United States, for it's continued existence as the domi nant power in American politics.
 Tie frank element of the republican party will so state in private. It is readily admitted that the claim of legislative accomplishment and re- duction in expense of government. Is in the main bunk" IL is readily Gd- mitted, also. credit for the achieve ment of the Washington conference must in fairness be divided with the democratic party.
 But in MT. Harding the republicans have an asset which democratic blan- dishment or criticism cannot elimi- nate.
 Harding Is Popular
 There is no question but that NIT. Harding is an exceedingly popular president. His popularity has taken possession of democrats as well as republicans. It is safely deduced by the most expert of Washington politi- NdA OtSSA NGi Q lHdL d idi o pti iNCiANe5 v of people in the Emitted States would hesitate to retire Mir, Harding all though they would be entirely indif- ferent to the fate of the republican party
 The personality of Harding will have it's effect in the congressional campaigns, too, it is admitted by democrats. While the people will not be called upon to vote for or against NI,. .1f 1f,,<- not 4.-iII ba na to act in response to his requests. A report reaching Washington from a Western state was to this effect: The republicans are disappointed with Congress, but find it almost impossi bit to humiliate the President.
 Republicans on Defensive
 The republican strategists are de- termined to play the Harding popu- larity to the greatest extent possible. They are on the defensive. They are confronted with the necessity of pre- serving themselves against approach ing oblivion. People are restless. Democrats are aggressive and confi- dent. Progressive republicans are displaying an independence never be- fore approached.
 The republicans must do something. They know that Congress has scored brilliant failure after brilliant failure.
 
 democrats with having contributed vitally to the success of the disarma- ment conference.
 So they necessarily fall back on Harding. He Is their ace in the hole.
 Democratic Criticism
 Democrats are aware that if the republicans are saved it will result from the popularity of the President. They will critieise the President They rrrf11 ar1o hot fu r,~f ( President, or a great leader. They win declare that the inactivity of Congress resulted directly from the inability of the President to assume leadership and require the legisla- tive body to act according to the ne- cessities of government.
 But they will be forced to admit that there is something about the President that wins the hearts of peo- pie that he is delightful in manner, and that his democratic bearing is all that is excellent. Therefore. the democrats cannot eliminate the re- publicans main dependence. Other wire, there would be little doubt as to their ability to win both houses of Congress the coming fall.
 Fight Is Hard
 If the democrats had nothing to meet save the, republican claim as to the achievements of Congress, of the Washington conference, or the net results of the budget system, all would be well, it is declared. For hard times" unemployment, the empty dinner pail, the ineffectiveness of Congress with offset 1t all.
 But the existence of Harding, de- spite criticism which democrats may in truth bring against him, makes the fight hard. Democrats will ad- init as much.