San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-08
Daugherty's Boost for
Harding Creates Ticklish
Situation for Party.
LID MAY FLY OFF
President Must Keep Up
Enthusiasm for Himself
or Lose His Job.
By ROBERT r. SMALL.

Washington, ID. T., April 1.-tresi-
J dent Harding returning to Washing
! ton tomorrow will find himself the
center of a political tempest. He has
been rather carefully screened from
the winds, both cold and hot, on his
southern vacation, but once here he
will feel the full force and effect OF
the high and low pressure areas which
s have been swirling with political Cos
sin and intrigue ever since Attorney
General Daugherty started or startled
5 the elements into action during his
sojourn at Miami Beach while the
President himself was off fishing IN
the one time haunts of Black Caesar,
the boldest pirate of the Spanish main.
The problem confronting President
Harding and his political aids is that
of keeping the G. o. p. in nor
malcy mood until Mr.. Harding's re-
nomination for president cap be rati-
s fled at the national convention year
from this coming June. If Attorney
General Daugherty and Postmaster
General New and Albert I.asker of the
Shipping Board, and all the other
members, both present and prospec-
Z tive, of the Harding political cabinet,
can keep the lid on the present day
normally in the party, then all will
be well.
Daugherty Too Hasty.
But there are a good many men,
wise in political ways, who openly
claim that Mr.. Daugherty has sprung
his coup too soon, and that be has
given the opposition within the party,
however nominal that opposition may
be at the present moment, time to
gather together its scattered forces,
reorganize and get formidable count
) er movement under way before the
primary season opens next spring.
II there should be a break in the
? government forces" during the next
twelve months. IL there should be any
signs of wavefing or weakening, that
action would release a pack of pent-
up booms. A year is a long time
Z to keep political enthusiasm at a
high pitch and yet that is the task
which faces the hackers of the presi-
dent In other words, President Hard
ing has been put up as target
not alone for the Democrats to shoot
at but as a mark for an occasional
pot shot by member of his own
party who may have aspirations in
the direction of the White House.
And, of course, it is folly to say that
such aspiratio do not exist.
During the twelve months of politi-
cal strife that lie before him, Presi-
dent Harding cannot afford to lay
down or weaken in his determination
to. stand for denomination. 1t is
conceded by all who know him well
that the President does not relish a
fight, particularly a long drawn out
one.
IS Some Other Candidates.
Mrs. Harding on the other hand, is
. never happier than when in the thick |
Of one. Consequently, il she ktf7s |
her health and continues 10 assertfh
will, Mr.. Harding will remain it the
race and make his position( during
the next year such an aggressive one
as to stall off all serious opposition.
Washington believes, however, that it
Z will take an aggressive attitude by
Mr.. Harding to assure him Of the
! nomination. The Republican party of
today is made up of many elements.
Not all of these are friendly to the
administration or under serious obli-
cations to il.
The President is certain to have
the opposition of Senator LaFollette
Of Wisconsin. Mr.. LaFollette always
gets the vote of the Wisconsin dele
cation. He gets it on the first ballot
and be keeps it to the last ballot.
That opposition already is counted
upon and discounted as well.
The administration forces frankly
fear a movement by Senator Hiram
johnson in his behalf. The presi-
Dental preference primaries which are
held nowadays in the various states
are an invitation TO oppose a presi-
dent for denomination which did not
exist in the old days of hand-picked
candidates from every state. Senator
johnson likes the primaries. 1t may
be that he will find his supporters
putting his name on the primary
ballots without an expressed desire
on his part.
Wood May Get In.
The danger to the Harding forces
is that a spark like this might start
a bon fire. II johnson should be-
come an avowed candidate, the bars
will be let down in earnest and other
Richmonds would enter the field. This
friends Of General Leonard Wood.
They say that If the fight for the
Republican nomination should be
thrown into the open by other aspir-
ants entering the primaries against
the President there is no reason why
General Wood should not be among
them. They do not hold it as bar
to General Wood that he has served
under President Harding as governor
general of the Philippines.
There is talk also that former
Governor Lowden of Illinois may
find himself projected into the pri-
maries. Mr.. Lowden's friends assert
that he received rather bad treatment
At he last convention and that a
campaign for him, in new hands,
might succeed where the other failed
Mr.. Lowden, offered a cabinet posi-
tion By President Harding, declined
it,
Last but not least. there is the
possibility that Will II. Hays, car
Of the movies. may enter the presi-
Dental race IL ii becomes a general
scrap. Mr.. Hays had the lightning
rods all up and polished at Chicago
in 1920. but when the time 10 agree