The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-29
HARDING To
HELP PARTY
CANDIDATES
Won't Make Stump Talks
but Will Write Stump
Letters.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

downright, 1922, by The Argus.)
Washington, d. c., March %
President Harding will not make
any speeches in the congressional
elections but will write stump
letters"-or rather letters that will
be used on the stump.
The announcement that the pres
ident planned to keep out of the fall
camuaign must not be taken too
literally in the opinion of members
of congress, many Of whom were
stirred up today by reports that
thew were to be abandoned by the
leader of their party to shift for
themselves.
What Mr.. Harding told some of
his friends was that he didn't think
the chief executive should go out on
the stump for congress. He is
mindful of course of the unfortun-
ate Interpretation which was placed
upon President Wilson's appeal for
a Democratic congress in NoVem-
ber, 1918, when the. war was draw
ing to a close, and he doesn't intend
to isue any such pronouncement.
G.. 0. P. Men Approve.
Members of congress say, how
ever, that they see no objection to
the writing of letter by President
Harding to some one like Simeon
D. Fess, chairman of the Republi-
can congressional committee, reclt-
ing his admiration of the achieve
ments of congress and congratulate
ing congress upon what it will have
done by the time the campaign
opens.
Such a letter, it is pointed out,
could be used on the stump to good
advantage. Individual representa-
tiyes and senators also are expect
ing letters from Mr.. Harding ad-
dressed to them or to some prom
inent constituent answering the US
ual inquiries as to the presidents s
appraisal of an individuals work
in congress. 1t is difficult for a
president to avoid answering such
letter with the statement that Mr..
So and So has been a staunch sup
porter of the Republican admins
tration and as the nominee of his
party is entitled to party support.
To Do ~Usual Thing"
All recent presidents - Wilson,
Taft and RooSevelt-have written
such letter of endorsement and
there are indications from the
White house that the practice will
not be discontinued. The usual
thing will be done-that's the way
high administration officials explain
Mr.. Harding's attitude. The only
significance to be attached thus far
10 the White house announcement
of policy is that a formal appeal TO
the country to elect a Republican
congress will be omitted and there
will be no stump speaking by the
chief executive. Nor will there be
any Intervention in the congress
sional primaries. Mr.. Wilson threw
his support to Democratic candi-
dates in the primaries in Georgia
and Mississippi and Alabama just
before the 1918 campaign and made
an open fight against men who had
opposed his policies. Mr.. Harding
seems TO think that was a mistake
and will not even oppose some of
the Republican senators who have
fought him at every turn in this con-
greSs.
"Dignified Alertness."
The president, is of course, deep
ly concerned in the outcome of the
congressional election. To lose
congress in the middle of his term,
or 10 even lose control of one
house, will be looked upon as a re-
pudiation OF the party. and augur
III for 1924. That has been the po-
liucal experience of the past. Mr..
Taft lost the house in 1910 and found
himself powerless in the last two
years of his administration just as
did Mr.. Wilson after he had lost
both houses in 1918.
The extent of Mr.. Harding's par
tcipation in the fall campaign by
letter writing and public statements
VIII depend upon circumstances, but
II is authoritatively stated that his
decision to keep off the stump must
not be misconstrued as a forerunner
OF passive silence. His course, 1t is
suggested instead, would be one OF
4 L.