The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-19
PLANS
| WIDER SWING
| ON CIRCLE.
Satisfied With Announcement
sof His Candidacy in 1924
ErstwhiIe Rivals Checked.
BY GEORGE II. HOLMES.
international News Service.

Apparently satisfied to let stand I'M
Qualified and uncontested the an
Iaouncement Of his 1924 candidacy,
President Harding sought solitude
ia fishing today. He was accom-
panied only by Gen. Charles G.
Dawes, one of his closest personal
friends, and principal political adj
visers
IF Mr.. Harding had any comment
to make upon the statement of Al
torrey General Daugherty that he
would accept a denomination from
the next Republican national con-
yention.' it was reserved for the fish
in Lake Worth inlet, for all efforts
to obtain a public expression from
Him WENT for T1aught.
There is reason to believe, how.
ever, that President Harding is not
displeased with the Daugherty an
YlouncemeT1t. and that the Attorney
General spoke advisedly when he.
asserted SO positively that Mr. Hard
ing, would be candidate to succeed
himself two years hence.
Effect Of Announcement.
From the standpoint of practical
/, politics, members of the Presiden-
tial party agreed today the an.
1ouncement at this comparatively
early stage of the game is good
move. Not only will it serve as a
check on whatever opposition there
is to Mr.. Harding within the Re-
publican party-and there have been
at least a half-dozen incipient booms
ii, recent Weeks-but it also will pro-
duce a. public reaction which the
Presidents friends want to see
clearly defined before the time
comes for final decisions.
Closely interviewer with this plan
to obtain an insight into public
opinion far in advance of the 1924
convention is the Presidents pro-
iected Western tour this summer.
This trip, which will carry him to
the Pacific coast for the first time
since he was nominated at the
Chicago convention. probably will
start late In June and last from
five to seven weeks covering many
States.
His Tentative Program.
IA tentative program, calling for
more than a score OF speeches IN
as many Western cities, has been
drawn up for weeks. 1t was the
subject Of numerous conferences be-
tween President Harding and his
Congressional advisors prior to the
adjournment of Congress on March
4, and was left pending for such
future additions or subtractions as
may later be deemed advisable.
The President probably Will 80 to-
the coast over the Mort herf1 route,
according to present plans, return
ing by the southern route. thus
making a complete swing around.
'h This difeif itinerary win carry INN
through. most OF the principal agri-
cultural and livestock States Of the.
entire West, where dissatisfaction.
with the existing order of things
was marked last November by the
defeat of many Republican Con-
gressional candidates.
There is a possibility, also, that
the President Nwill visit his home
state of Ohio before returning to.
Washington on the present trip.
He plans to spend next week in
st. Augustine, where Attorney Gen
eTaI Daugherty and Secretary of
War Weeks will be mentioning,
then go to Augusta, Ga, for several
days.
Returns to House Boat.
If conditions at Washington at
that time do not make it fmpera-
tive for him to return Immediately,
1t is possible he will visit Marion
and Columbus before resuming his
official cares at the White House.
The President was back on his
houseboat today. The Pioneer lay
at anchor last night in Lake
Worth, midway between Palm
Beach and West Palm Beach. This
morning she lifted anchor and moved
north to the mouth OF the inlet,
where Me. Harding and General
Dawes got out their fishing tackle
and prepared for a day Of ft-cut
off from all contact with shore
activities.
The other members of the presi-
Dental party, "A. ID. Lasker, =. B.
Mclean, and George B. Christian,
jr., golfed at Palm Beach and
planned to overtake the Pioneer
later in the day via automobile.