Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
Cop. EREEFOR-ALL
EXPECTED IN 1924
Race for Nomination Wide
Open, With Many Local
FavOriteS.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Complete reconsideration of the 1924
presidential situation in the republi-
can party becomes necessary through
the passing OF Warren G. Harding
The field for the nomination is now
wide open. y competition is in pros
pect as intense as the 1920 race. from
which Mr.. Harding emerged as the
triumphant compromise candidate. A
week ago Mr.. Harding's denomination
was looked upon as all but an accom-
plished fact. During the brief period
of his incapacity at San Francisco
the view gained ground that, for per-
sonaf reasons, he might not seek a
second term. Had Mr.. Harding sur
Viyed and voluntarily retired from the
presidential race. Senator Hiram w.
Johnson of California was considered
by many authorities the most prob
BILE heir to the 1924 nomination.
Today. with Calvin Coolidge OF Mas
saehusetts installed in the presidency
the situation has taken a kaleido-
scppic and wholly unexpected turn.
President Coolidge is certain to per-
petuate the conservative ideals of the
Harding administration. He win
stand for its steady course in dOmes-
tie and international politics as firmly
as AIR. Harding did. He is tempera-
mentally opposed TO the 'reactionary
progressivism" of republicans of the
Hiram johnson type. There could
hardly be greater antithesiS. person
ally or politically, than there is be-
Nd "A
California 'isolationist." That there
VIII be a strong demand for Mr.. Cool
idge's nomination for President in
1924 can be foreshadowed with little
risk. Massachusetts,. whose "iayorite
son" he was in 1920. is certain, Wash
ington thinks. TO present him TO the
national republican convention next
year.
ProEressiyes Shy at johnson.
There is little prospect that Cool
idge candidacy will induce other aspi-
rants to Gear the track. y consider
able number of them was only waiting
for Mr. Harding's elimination from the
race to enter ii on theft own account.
Hiram Johnson is the principal con-
tender of that description. He aSpires
on the ground of his ''progressivism"
and particularly because Of his hostil-
ity to foreign entanglements." Many
feHow-progressives regard Johnson a
renegade. Senator La Toilette, il is
believed. would strongly oppose him.
Johnson supported the Fordney-Mc-
Cumber tariff. the ship subsidy and
other congressional measures that are
anathema to the radical wing OF the
republican party. He missed his
train" when the Newherry vote was
taken in the Senate. Many progress
;@ives charge Johnson with trying to
be progressive and "reactionary" at
the san time.
Former Gov. Frank o. Lowden of
Illinois is known TO be ready to re-
enter the republican presidential con-
test. He is not an ''iSoiationiSt" and
has definite league of nations leanings.
Mr.. Lowden still numbers countless
admirers throughout the middle west
and southwest. Their confidence in him
was not impaired by the delegate
sent. defeated his ambitions at the
1890 convention. Gen. Leonard Woods
star may also re-emerge on the G..
o. P. horizon. He will have back of
him a new record of strong adminiStra-
tive service in the Philippines. He
has never renowned his presidential
ambitions.
Pinchot Strong Prospect.
II conditions dictate the necessity
of recognized progressive at the head
of the republican ticket. the claims of
Gov. Clifford Pinchot OF Pennsylvania
cannot be overlooked. He is undoubt-
eddy receptive candidate. He will
control the Pennsylvania delegation at
the national convention and IL will
advocate his nomination if he desires
Senator La Toilette will be pres
enteo by Wisconsin and possibly en-
dcrsed by Minnesota and the Dakotas
Senator BroOkhart, will try to swing
Iowa for former Senator Kenyon.
formidably as the candidate surest
to win the farming west.
Indiana has two potential repub-
lican presidential candidates in the
persons OF Senator James E. Wat
son and former Senator Albert ].
lightning rod" ready for years. Mr.
Reyeridge is said to feel that recent
political developments throughout
the country have been of a char
acter that make his type of repub-
licanism eligible presidential timber
de2pite his own defeat for the SEN
ate in 1922.
Crfinet Has Candidates.
1t has commonly been said that
j're3lQSnt Harding cabinet contained
a wealth OF presidential timber-both
as to quality and as to ambitions
There are no few republicans who
think that Charles l.. Hughes, as
the architect of the Harding admin
istration's greatest constructive
achievements lin the realm of inter-
national affairs), is entitled to an
other nomination for the presidency
SO there are republicans who believe
that Herbert Hoover would make a
winning candidate in 1924 Secre-
taries John w Weeks and Edwin
Danby rank as potential candidates,
but their prospects have never been
taken so seriously as those of Messrs.
Hughes and Hoover
All that can with certainty be set
down at this critical hour is that
republican presidential affairs are in
the melting pot. It looks like a free
field and no sure favor for any man.
If the times improve in the agricuI-
tural regions by 1924. with conse-
quent discouragement to the radical
element, the republican party is
more than likely to place its faith
anew in a conservative ra di,io a