Evening star., 1923-07-05

President Harding may or may not
have won the confidence of the coun-
try on his western trip-that is
matter FOR the 1924 election to settle
but he has certainly assured him
self of denomination. 1t will take
political earthquake to disiodge him.
Before the President went west
there were all sorts of rumors to the
effect that he was not particularly
keen about a second term and that he
might be disposed to withdraw VOL
unfairly from the race. These were
predicted on the assumption that he
would find himself unpopular in the
west and that he would be much more
likely to decline to be a candidate
for denomination than to place the
party in position which would mean
inevitable defeat in the 1924 election
itself.
His Real Standpoint.
The writer has talked with the
President on the subject of renomi-
nation and can say with authority
that the true viewpoint of Warren
Harding has not been accurately re-
f'ected either by those who have in
sisted that Mr.. Harding was seeking
a second term or those who have rep
resented him as undecided whether
he would strive to be renominated.
Naturally Mr.. Harding Is anxious for
d continuation in power of the re-
publican party Even as early as the
first few months of his administra-
ton there were people who sought
second term. He always put it off.
arguing that the business in hand
was to make good in the term for
which he was elected, without think
went to Florida Mr.. Harding told
friends who inquired about il that
he did not feel it proper TO make an
announcement of candidacy one way
or the other. and that he believed it
was a matter which the republican
party should decide for itself
Friends of the President. like At
torney General Daugherty, however,
took 1t upon themselves to predict
that Mr.. Harding would be renomi-
ments were accepted as the equiva-
lent of an announcement by Mr.
Harding himself, they were not in
tended as such by him. They were
ing to checkmate possible opposition
and to squelch incipient booms. 1t
was case in which the friends of
Mr.. Harding boldly took the strategy
INTO tnelr own nanQS. NOR could the
President show displeasure, because
the move was obviously in his inter
est
Wants Record to Decide.
Yet the fact remains that the
President feels it is not incumbent
upon him to seek the nomination. If
his record is deserving of renomina-
tion he would feel honored to have
the party give it to him. 1t is too
early to say what his attitude will be
toward the primaries next spring. but
not being very ardent believer in
the primary system, II will hardly be
surprising if Mr.. Harding refrains
from entering the primary campaign.
political people have been intimating
that possibly the President would
withdraw from the race is their
knowledge of his own sense of resfg-
nation to fate. He has said upon oc-
casions that there were lots worse
things in life than being beaten for
the presidency. He Is the type OF man
who, when the rule of the ajority is
against him, accepts the verdict with
a feeling that he has done his best
Should he fail of denomination or re-
election, Warren Harding will be a
good loser.
But on the western trip the Presi-
dent himself was inspired by the
warmth and cordiality of the recep-
tions given him. He is convinced that
what America needs at the present
time Is a continuation of his policy of
calmly trying to avoid the extreme in
anything. He believes more can be
accomplished by steadily pursuing