The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-22
|. |. ?. MEMBER ERS ARE CONCE RNED BY TEMPER OF WEST
Harding Will Have To Fight His Way Should He Seek
 Nomination
WASHINGTON BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD ! Washington. D, C.. ,Iuly %I

=
 Warren G. Harding will probably be the nominee of the next republi- can convention-unless he should re- tire from the field-but the next re- publican convention will not be a hippodroine.
 President Harding will have to fight his way from first to last It is the opinion here that but for the advantage the administration will have in the form of handpicked dele gates from the south, President liar ding could not achieve the nomina- tion.
 At the present time. strategists of the g. 0. p. fold, moved by the most recent demonstration of the temper of the "radical'a req Of the country, are seriously debating the situation. There arc those who believe that Harding, if nominated, could not be elected. The advisability of select ing another candidate of a less con- servative, though not radical dis position is giving them pause.
 Frankly. they fear the result if they attempt to ride roughshod over the LaFoilettes, tine Brookharts, the Ladds, the MagLus Johnsons. Radicals To Raise Voices.
 It is regarded as a significant de- velopment that just as the strate- gists of the "Old Guard" are seri- ously considering the situation from their standpoint the so-called radi- calls, now prone to believe that they have chance, tre preparing to as- sert themselves.
 Senator Brookhart, the radical of Iowa. recently returned from Flu rope, declares for the nomination of former Senator w. $. Kenyon of Iowa. He declares that Harding, in his speeches, so depressed the west that he all but nominated and elected Henry Ford. He argues that Kenyon. progressive, but not radical, could hold the republican party to- gether, whereas Harding, as nomi- nee, would make a split unayoid- able.
 Another senator of the radical per suaslon, cenews the boom for Hiram Johnson cf California. lie argues that Johnson is halfway" between Harding and LaFollette. and as such would be pleasing to the majority of the people who adhere to the party of Lincoln"
 Senator LaFollette, who cam
 
 Johnson, feeling his oats," all but throws his hat into the ring. The result" he declared, was a protest against monopoly in government as permitted by the administration The people cried aloud. They will continue to cry. The movement will extend. The old order of things. the rule of bosses. passes from the face of the earth"
 Alarmed Over west.
 The ract that the west remains radical is what. apparently, gives the leaders of the regulars their great est alarm. When Senator Shipstead was elected in Minnesota over the Old Guard" member they thought that merely 'flarebaclS" that would not long endure. In the recent race. they felt confident that Governor Preus would be elected. Now they realize, it is said, that the dis tressful situation is of perma- nent, fundamental nature. and that the poison" is extending itself throughout the west.
 These leaders feel themselves con fident when 1t comes to exert!nE their influence n the convention; to out-general the radicals, to tease them, and finally toss them out of the window. They realize, however, that if they operate the steam roller, there will he a hereafter. It is not denied in some republican quarters that if Harding is renominated a third party will be formed immedi- ately thereafter, and that it will have sufficient kick to defeat he regular ticket
 In view of the situa ton, it is re- garded as highly significant that the President has cut short his visit, and is headed homeward Alaska is far distant, he is said to have realized. when political fences, at home, need repairing. It is said he feels that his tour of the west" was a failure. and that he will have to exert him. self to save the day.
 o O O
 Harding Satisfies Politicians.
 As soon as President Harding is again in Washington, he will go into consultation with congressional leaders. When he deserted his court proposal in St, Louis, he satisfied the politicians. including the chair men of the national. the senatorial and congressional campaign com mittees. It is said that his ad- Visers have informed him that it will be necessary for him to urge progressive" Legislation on the next Congress, 10 urge it even though it be certain that it will not be enacted.
 Just how far the President will go in meeting the idea of the radi- calls is not known. He will move for a revision of the railroad act of 1920. and will even declare for a bonus properly financed" But the radicals want ore than that.
 
 abolished. They want the value of agricultural products guaranteed wheat Ut si.75 per bushel. How can President Harding traii with that crowd? Ard yet. it is pointed out that for the sake of eHpedicncy, he cannot break with them.
 Democrats "SittinH Pretty"
 In the meanwhile. the democrats are sitting pretty" It IS admitted that the fight ia convention will be bitter. Rutde mucrats do not be- lieve that a thhd party bugaboo constitutes menace Tor them. Leaders here hold that q third party would carry, or so seriously divide as to give then. to democrats, cer- tain northwestern states which never, of themselvesl. incline to de- mocracy.
 They do not feel that the solid south" is ir jeopa rdy. and that as a result split in republican ranks '