The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-28
PROMINENT 6. D. P.
FIGURES PLANNING
FOR 1928 BATTLE
Building Up Fences Against
Day When Harding viii
Drop Mantle
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
nv Jea<ed Wire to The AEe-Herald.)


WASHINGTON. May 27.-Repub-
licans of presidential caliber, con-
ceding that Harding will be named
for a second term. are playing their
cards to win the nomination in 1923.
This is the explanation of much
present political activity within the
republican party. These prominent
figures privately admit that the re-
nomination of Harding is almost in
evitable. But they are keeping IN
the spotlight. building up their
fences, and keeping their political
mercenaries in training against the
day when Harding will drop the manS
tie of leadership. Some are playing
to inherit it by right of succession.
Others are playing to get it by con-
quest.
1t is the latter-including Hiram
johnson. Borah, LaFollette, Arthur
Capper, and Medill McCormick-who
will be heard from most during the
approaching campaign They are
seeking to capitalize the discomfort
with Harding and the conservative
wing. hoping to start a swing of the
pendulum that will bring the major
ity of the party over to them. La
Toilette may leap out at the head OF
a third party movement next year,
but it is~doubtful.
Three Seek Leadership
Johnson, Borah and LaFoQette are
engaged in a three cornered fight
for the leadership of the progressive
republicans. Mccormick, a protege
of the Senate irreconclables. hopes
to ascend to the leadership some time
before 1928 Capper is reaching out
through his growing chain of re-
publicans and now has larger
farmer following than any other one
man.
Among those who hope to inherit
the mantle by right of succession
are Secretary of State Hughes, Sec
rotary of Commerce Hoover, VIII H.
Hays, former chairman of the re-
publican national committee, Senator
George Wharton Pepper and Senator
James E. Watson of Indiana.
Hughes and Hoover are rendering
faithful service that will give them
the right to claim recognition when
the party begins searching for its
next candidate. VIII Hays pays fire.
quent visits to the White House and
though he is nominally out of poll
tics, he keeps in touch with all the
leaders.
Pepper Powerful Figure
He is being urged by many to re-
turn to active work in the next cam
paign. Senator Pepper of Pennsyl-
Vania will be a powerful figure in
the Senate in four years more. Wat
son of Indiana has had aspirations.
but he received a severe blow when
his Indiana rival, Harry S. New, was
made Postmaster General.
All of these. except Hoover, Hays
and Mccormick, will be at a serious
disadvantage in 1928 because of ad-
vancing age. The presidency means
first six months of grueling cam
paigning and then four years of the
hardest kind of labor. Vigor. ply
steal and mental, is demanded.
Among the presidents IS were in
were under so and only five were
over so. Excepting the three
youngsters. all of these party lead
ers will be over 60 when the 1928
convention meets, and the chances
therefore, will be greatly against
them
This tragic realization is already
dawning on some of these men.
81 had hopes of being President
four years ago, but l lost my chance
and 1 do not know whether it will
ever come again now" one of this
group told the writer a few days ago.
But the bite of the presidential bee
is never cured and this senator, pri-
vately realizing the odds are against
him, is at this moment building his
fences and hoping against hope that
the lightning will strike.