Evening star., 1923-02-28
PRESIDENT URGED
AS 1924 NOMINEE
Friends Start Work to As.
sure Him Leadership OF
Party Again.
Nv the Associated Press.

Convinced that half a dozen as
pirants already are making cautious
evsrtures to testtheir strength as re-
publican presidential possibilities for
1894. some of the friends of President
Harding have begun to work to as
sure him a denomination.
Thus far the movement on behalf Of
the President has not reached the pro-
portions of a closely knit organiza-
tien, but it has progressed to the
point where it promises to make It
self felt in many states before the
coming summer is well begun.
The attitude OF Mr.. Harding himself
toward a second term remains unan-
nounced. and 1t is considered improba-
BILE that he will make any public
statement of his intentions, at least
general agreement among thasA< on
the inner circle of Washington poll
tics, however, that a desire for public
Endorsement of his stewardship will
impel him to stand for reelection.
New Lineup Expected.
1t is upon this presumption, at any
rate, that those who want to see
him remain in the White House for
another four years are proceeding.
Included in the group of his friends
who have been in conference here
are some of the men who led the
successful pre-convention campaign
of 1920, and some who came over
to tho Harding ranks from other
camps after the convention. AS q
result. the ultimate lineup of the
Harding forces of 1924 Is expected
to resemble only in part the organiza-
tion that fought and triumphed in
N q ar Atrh Of av~c
ago.
Attorney General Daugherty, who
was the pre-convention manager for
Mr.. Harding in 1920. is expected to
again take hand in urging a re-
nomination. But for several reasons
his friends to be as active as he
was in 1890. His health recently
failed him, requiring him to remain
In beu for several weeks, and al
though he has virtually recovered he
cannot take the burden of travel and
conference which would fall upon
an active campaign manager. In
addition. his official duties in the De-
partment of Justice are expected to
preclude him from being long absent
from Washington during the cam
paign.
Several men who have long been
prominent in party affairs have been
mentioned as available for the more
strenuous work of organization.
Hays Urged as Chairman.
Charles D. Hilies, a former national
chairman, is one of those 80 consjd-
cred, but he has made no statement
thus far as to what part he would be
willing to take in the pre-convention
work. Recently Mr.. Hilles conferred
with the President and together they
visited Mr.. Daugherty in his sick
room.
In the background of these eonsId-
eratIons lies also the question of who
is to manage the republican campaign
after the nomination has been made
The supporters of John T. Adams.
the present national chairman, say
regardless of the result of the nomi-
aasee Hers hsvs sroueh 81
light however, an attempt by the
friends of VIII H Hays, who man
aged the 1929 campaign, to retnstate
him in the chairmanship.
The exact strength of the Hays
boom is yet to be demonstrated, but It
is receiving serious notice among the
coterie of Harding supporters, who
are laying the ground work for his
denomination. 1t Is realized that II
Mr.. Harding is renominated it will be
for him to say whether he desires to
again seek the services Of the man
rolled up its record-breakink major
ity of 1920
All OF these subjects seem likely to
be thrashed over very soon after Mr..
Harding concludes the months vaca-
tion in Florida, for which he will
leave Washington early next week.
Attorney General Daugherty, in
whom the President recently has ex-
pressed anew his complete confidence,
will be one of the guests on the Flor
ida houseboat trip, and after it is
concluded 1t is possible that Mr..
Harding and at least a part Of the
party will proceed to Ohio. to spend
few days on home soil. There he
publican state leaders and examine
the republican organization of his
home state, which. last November,
elected democratic governor. 1t Is
taken for granted that q solid Ohio
delegation would be the first requisite
to convention lineup which would
insure a denomination.
Later in the summer, Mr.. Harding's
friends are predicting, the President
will take speech ma king trip that
will carry him to the Pacific coast and
VIII include about twenty addresses.
During this trip he will have the op-
portunity for which he frequently has
expressed desire recently, to "get
better acquainted" with the people
whose chosen spokesm he is. 1t is
not intended.to give the tour the color
of a swing around the political circle,
but when he faces his audiences he is
expected to give an accounting of his
acts in the past and outline his poli-
eies for the future.
AS a result of various contributing