Evening star., 1922-03-29
TO USE
STUMP LETTERS"
Members of Congress Have
Expectations Of Aid in
Fall Campaign.
By. DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Harding will not make
any stump speeches in the congress
sional elections. but will write stump
letters"-or, rather, letters that will be
used on the stump.
The announcement that the Presi-
dent planned to keep out Of the fall
campaign n1ust not be taken too lit
orally, in the opinion OF members of
Congress, many of whom were stirred
up today by reports that they were to
be abandoned by the leader Of their
party and left 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 unfortunate interpre-
tation which was placed upon Presi-
dent Wilson's appeal for a democratic
Congress in November, 1918. when the
war was drawing to close. and he
doesn't intend to issue any such pro-
nouncement.
Kind Of Letter Suggested.
Members of Congress say. however,
that they see no objection to the writ
|
to some one like Simeon d. Fess,
chairman of the republican congress
sional campaign committee, reciting
his admiration of the achievements of
Congress and congratulating Con-
gress upon what 1t will have done by
the time the campaign opens.
Such a letter, it is pointed out,
Z hn -,
advantage. Individual representa-
tives and senators are also expecting
letters from Mr.. Harding. addressed
to them or to some prominent con-
stituent, answering the usual in
quiries as to the Presidents appraisal
of an individuals work in Congress.
1t is difficult for a President to avoid
answering such letter with the
statement that MIR. So-and-So has
been a staunch supporter of the re-
publican administration. and as the
nominee of his party is entitled to
party support.
All recent Presidents-Wilson, Taft
and Roosevelt-have written such
letters of Endorsement, and there are
indications from the White House
that the practice viii no< be discon-
tinued: The usual thing will be done
that's the way high administration
officials explain Mr.. Harding's atti-
tude The only significance to be at
tached thus far to the White House
announcement of policy is that for
NAL appeal to the country to elect Il
republican Congress will be omitted.
and there Will be no stump-speak
by the chief executive Nor viii
there be any intervention in the con-
sressional primaries.
Mr.. Wilson threw his support to
democratic candidates in the pri-
maries in Georgia and Mississippi and
A
paign, and made an open fight against
men who had opposed his policies.
Mr.. Harding seems to think that was
mistake, and will not even oppose
some of the republican senator's who
have fought him at every turn in
this Congress.
Interest In Elections.
| The President is, of course. deeply
concerned in the outcome of the con-
| gressional elections. To lose Con-
gress in the middle of his term. or
| even 10 lose control ;of one house,
would be looked upon as a repudia-
tion of the party and augur ill for
1924. That has been the political ex-
perience OF the pa st. Mr. Taft lost
the House in 1910 and found himself
powerless in the last two years of
MS duHiniSlEatloh, JUST as did Mr..
Wilson after he lost both houses in
1918.
The extent of Mr. Hardings par
ticipation in the fall campaign by
letter writing and public statements
Will depend upon circumstances, put
1T Is authoritatlvely stated that his
decision to keep off the stump must
not be misconstrued as forerunner
of passive silence. His course, it is
suggested. instead. will be one of
dignified alertness.
(Copyright 1927