The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-22
PRESIDENT WORRIED
OVER REPORT THAT.
HE WOULD Retire.
Semi Official Denial Now Be-
ing Broadcasted-BeIieve
President Desires to Serve
Another Term
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS
Washington Bureau. The Age Herald,
800 DNvideon RuIihIna


Washington. October 21.-SpeciaI.)
The report that the President had
concluded to retire at the end of his
term. greatly embarrassed the Presi-
dent. Although, as reported by this
bureau. the report was generally dis
counted, the President, himself, took
1t very much to heart
By the indirect methods that Presi-
dent pursue, Mr.. Harding has oeen
busily engaged in spreading broad
cast denial, more or less official.
Some of the newspapers, referred to
as organs and apologists of the ad-
ministration. have sought to impress
the country with the idea that the
report was the result of democratic
conspiracy, and served as a kind of
democratic propaganda.
The reason why the public in
Washington generally discounted the
report was based on the belief that
the President naturally desires to
serve as long as any other President
has served. 1t was likewise known
that politicians would insist on his
candidacy to the end that rivals for
the nomination might not produce
lasting discord in party ranks.
Purchased Farm
The reason given by the corre-
spondent of the New York World for
tho report that Harding would not
ask for another term was that he
had purchased the farm in Ohio on
which he was born; and had tired
of public service.
The President, however, and his
political advisers took the view that
the report would adversely affect the
rapuhljcau andidafeq chappaa in the
forthcoming November elections.
They argued that were 1t true the
President would retire, 1t would be
due to the determination of poll
ticians that he could not be re-
elected. He did not like the idea that
someone might think he had been
dropped. discarded. 1t was feared
that the peo1e might think his adj
ministration a failure. and recognized
as such by republican politicians.
Report Denied
Following the report of the pro-
posed retirement. those newspapers
which have steadfastly supported the
administration in all it's undertakings.
and studiously attempted to hide the
faults and throw glamor around
the achievements of the admins
tration, carried dispatches from
Washington correspondents denying
the truth of the report. The Wash
ington Post, regarded as the organ
of Harding, was especially emphatic
in its denial. Thereafter, the at
torney-general. Mr.. Daugherty.
went to Ohio and told the people that
the report was not true. The Presi-
dent has been greatly concerned by
the situation in Ohio, and in order
to eliminate any political injury that
the report might do in Ohio, he dis
patched the politician of the
administration to correct 1t.
The administrator impression
that the report emanated from demo-
cratic headquarters after having been
conceived in political malice, Is UNI
true Some months ago, before the
campaign got under way, a Washing
ton correspondent originated the re-
r ort In his own mind He knew that
Harding was lacking In energy and
loved peace. He naturally saw the
President willing to return to the
quietude of the farm after having
won the greatest honor in the gift OF
his countrymen.
Recently, the report was revived.
It was based on the writer's knowl-
edge of the Presidents inclinations,
the fact that he had purchased the
farm on which he spent his youth.
and some rumored conversations al
legged to have been held by the Presi-
dent, and Senator New of Indiana.
1t was written because the capital
Is dull with Congress at home. But
for the campaigns, 1t would have at
tracted no White House attention.