The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
PRESS ON SECOND TERM

there is no doubt that MT. Harding will be again candidate for the presidential nomi- nation. MT. Harding hasn't said so, but there is suspicion that MT. Daugherty gets his information very close to firsthand. It is a little early to make formal announce ments of the sort, but it is Just as well to throw straw or two into the wind to show onlookers how it blows. Besides, it might save other sspirants a great deal of time and expense that would otherwise be lost in initiating their own political dirigibles. MT. Harding is in the fair-way, to use an expression from his own favorite sport and it would by no means be courteous for some one else not in his set to drive off until he is on the green. The president has already won ono presidential match, and there is no ono who has shown superior skill to displace him in carrying the party banner. While other booms may develop among the radi- calls of the party, it is believed by many that MT. Harding's willingness again to serve is the decisive factor in the convention's choice.
 Rubbing up little on it's history, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle is emboldened to re- mind it's readers that "every president elected since the Civil war, except Ruther- ford B. Hayes, was renominated at the con- clusion of his first term," and the Eagle con- cludes that "the Old Guard, of which Attor- ney General Daugherty is the present mouth piece convinced that it has first mortgage on the 1924 convention, would be ungrateful for favorr received if it turned Mr. Harding down." Four or five -,o.,tLe ago, reminisces the Detroit Free Press, there was consider able talk about the president being tired of his job and having had enough of the White House, but "since then MT. Harding has put a blight on that yarn by discouraging gently but firmly numerous boomlets that sprung up in the ranks of his party as . result of this story; and there has been pretty def mite understanding that when he got to it. he would publicly throw his hat into the ring" It may be taken that MT. Daughter tvs announcement was merely . panto- mimic gesture presaging such use of hab- erdashery on tho part of his chief.
 The Washington Star, which manages to stay friends with almost all administrations, contents itself with remarking that "Presi- dent Harding and his advisers will make no mistake in featuring law enforcement as a paramount issue in next years campaign fo' the presidency. It is an issue of such vital consequence to tho American people-to the people of present and future genera tions- that 1t might well be the paramount issue of tho campaign. Any candidate or any party opposing full and impartial en- forcement of tho laws, or lukewarm in its advocacy, would be beaten from the start" But why should the Star give the Republi- cans . copyright on such an accepted prin- ciple as that the laws should be enforced? Does the Star imagine that either party would be so foolish as to go before the peo- pie on . platform of non-enforcement of existing laws?
 The Dallas News is inclined to bs some- what satirical of the Republican political situation and acutely observes: "The men who contributed 50 much toward the nomi- nation of MT. Harding nearly three years ago were not moved to favor his candidacy so much by . sense of agreement with this ideas and ideals as by tho belief that he would espouse them with . diffidence which would enable them easily to set aside such as should not commend themselves to their judgment. They have not been disappointed, and the fulfillment of their expectation is pretty certain to enlist in the support of MT. Harding's desire for renomination polti- clans who are opposed to his policies, and make them the allies of those who are m favor of them. But of course Mir. Harding will have . much better resource in the prac- tical necessity which his party will be under to renominate him. It must stand on the o% h{s soi {c have any hope of victory, and it would re pudiate the record if 1t should give to some one else . nomination he had asked for."
 The New York World takes advantage of the opportunity to give the Democratic party . little advice By saying: "If the Demo- crats expected that in 1924 they would be favored by serious divisions in tho Republi- can national convention they are doomed to disappointment. If they feared that they might face a stronger candidate than Mr. Harding they have nothing to worry about on that score. They know what they will have to meet in the campaign next year, and if they fail to make intelligent prepara- tions that will be their own fault. Putting MT. Harding on record in the middle of March, 1923, it not without it's advantages to them if they have sense enough to make the most of their opportunities" To those readers who note the third personal aloofness of the World it may be well to remark that the World is really Democratic journal.
 That the Republicans have not made a wise choice appears to be the view of the Savannah News: "Some Republican writers seem to think the people do not want
 
 point to the result in 1921 to prove it. But