Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-03-19
MOVE TO 'SIDETRACK'
HARDING. JOHNSON IS
INSURGENT CANDIDATE
California Man And Senator
Moses Going To Europe For
Ammunition
TO TOUR AGAINST LEAGUE
Expect A Revolt In East Among
Standpatters Against Hard
ing's Leadership
WASHINGTON. March 1a.-sen.

WASHINGTON, March 19.-Sen-
ate Hiram Johnson's latest attack
on President harding"s proposal for
American representation in the
Permanent Court Of International
Justice is taken here as further cor
roboration Of a report that he is to
compete for the Republican presiden-
tial nomination in 1924 as the candi-
date of large and powerful group
of irreconciIable Senators led by
George II. Moses, of New Hampshire.
For some time Senator Moses has
been the spokesman, though in
clandestine way, Of Eastern Repub-
lcans who deprecate President
Harding's denomination because they
doubt the possibility of his re-elec-
tion and who want to get him out Of
the way. Members of this coterie are
well aware that if Mr.. Harding wants
denomination there is no way to de-
prive him of it; accordingly they
have adopted the plan Of convincing
him, if they can, of his unaccepta-
bility to influential individuals and
interests within his party.
''The tactics of this Senatorial ca
bal include, in addition to furnish
ing Mr.. Harding with proof OF his
unpopularity and of the ineptitude of
some of his policies and proposals,
a sort Of demonstration in force"
to show him that he may expect vig-
orous opposition in the primaries and
the national convention. 1t is felt
that Mr.. Harding will more likely
quit" in the face Of a fight than
merely because he sensed his own
personal and political weaknesses.
Going to Europe.
The men chosen to confront Mr..
Harding as an opponent in the pri-
maries was Senator Johnson, Sena-
tor Moses acting for other irrecon-
cilables made the choice. Both
Johnson and Moses are going to Eu-
rope in quest Of ammunition to fire
at- Mr.. Harding and his proposition
with respect to American partlcipa-
ton in the International court. When
they return, it is planned, johnson
will tour New England and the At
lantic and Middle States uttering
anathemas against the League o.
Nations and the international court.
Senator Johnson has qualified for
the support of these Eastern Repub-
icans who want to force President
Harding out of the race without at
the same time opening the door to
real progressive, JohnsOn's perfor-
. mances in the SiXty-seventh congress
were quite satisfactory to the reac-
tionaries. He upheld the profteers,
tariff. he indorsed the ship subsidy,
he was conveniently absent when the
Newberry vote was taken, and IL
general has proved himself quite de-
pendable. All the big California in
reregts that formerly fought john
son in his campaigns for nomlna-
tion and election as Senator were
either active in his behalf or friend
ly neutrals last fall.
Must Open on East.
A revolt among the standpatters
of the East against President Hard
ing's denomination would be a seri-
Gus blow to his ambition to succeed
himself. 1t is upon the East that he
must largely depend, since the whole
trans Mississippi region has long
since regretted it's part in electing
him and is eager to atone for its mis-
take by supporting almost any one
else.
It is the belief as we'll as the pur-
pose of the Senatorial intriguers that
when Mr.. Harding understands the
situation with which they are at
tempting to confront him he will find
an excuse for making a public an
nouncement of his intention to re-
tire to private life after March 4,
1925,