, 1923-03-08

speak for it, and the influence of the office holding
forces who are always ready to further the inter
ests of the existing regime in order to further
their own interests.
The whole presidential proposition can be mar.
rowed down to the fact that Mr.. Harding can be
nominated for president if he so desires despite
the ambitions of favorite sons who may have more
or less following.
1t is entirely too early to know whether or not
Mr.. Harding will have opposition. Opinion at this
time has not been expressed, although there are
hints that he will--something more than the u.s.
ual favorite son program of compliment.
No party criticism of Mr.. Harding's admins
tration has been heard, for in fact, from a strict
party standpoint but little criticism could stand.
Personal criticism of himself and his acts are out
of the question, they have no basis.
OF criticism of accomplishment under the adj
ministration, or rather of failure of accomplish
ment more is heard. Things hoped for have not
been realized in some cases. The impossibility, in
the face of the monumental job inherited by the
administration, to do the things which people dc.
sired, in the brief time that has elapsed, is not
taken into consideration. Nor whether the things
desired we're advisable or inadvisable for the pub
lie interest. Therefore in this feature, if anything
is held against the. chief executive, it is failure to
do the impossible.
There is one other matter, and it is an old party
question from the day of Roosevelt, carried on to
greater or less extent in party matters, by his for
mer followers, and that is party policy and govern
mental policy toward legislation and public ques-
lions that arise from time to time. The attitude
to be taken toward extremes. Whether the party
should remain true to its traditions of sane gov
eminent of progress and advance with caution and
SaletN, Fronting Dy experience, or 10 embark upon
the sea of experiment and the untried, even if at
tractive and promising of popularity. 1t is the old
question of conservatism and radicalism in what
ever modified form followers choose to label it.
This question was very pertinent in 1912, hal not
entirely disappeared in 1916, but was forgotten en-
tirely in 1920. The circumstance of being out of
power II 1916 and 1920 had a large influence in
its suppression. Now that the Republican party is
back in control of the government the question ma.
turally returns. How troublesome it will become,
the future must determine.
1t would seem however that the Republican par
ty is sufficiently progressive to please almost its
entire membership. The party surely does not hope
to please the extremists. The radicals have so
walked off with the thunder of the old Progress
sives of 1912 and 1916 as to make them appear rank
conservatives at this date. Surely men who fol-
lowed Roosevelt and adhered to his views cannot
subscribe to the policies advocated by those who
have appropriated the Progressive label and as.
sumo to inherit the things that were Roosevelt.
The president is set down as a conservative. He
is n conservative when mentioned in the same
breath with Borah, johnson, LaFollette and Brook
hart. But he is not a conservative of the reaction
airy type as followers of these men would have the
public understand. But it matters little in a presi-
Dental shakedown in what particular light some
of these extremists regard the president.
The availability of Mr.. Harding as a winner
will he the practical question that will come be-
fore the party, and the one, which. from n stand
point of success is TO be determined. That will be
fully determined within the ensuing few months.
When tits all said and done the matter resolves
itself thus-Mr. Harding can be nominated, can
he be elected?