Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-28
PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN TALK
President Harding's Friends
Begin Work to Assure Him
of denomination

| WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S (By The
| Associated Press)-Ccnvinced that
half dozen aspirants already are
| making cautious overtures to test
| their strength as Republican pres
| of the friends of President Hard
ing have begun work to assure
| him denomination,
| Thus far the movement on behalf
of the President has not reached
| the proportions of a closely knit
| organization, but it has progressed
! to the point where it promises to
| make itself felt in many States be-
| fore the coming summer is we'll
begun.
The attitude of Mr.. Harding him
self toward a second term remains
unannounced, and it is considered
improbable that he will make any
public statement of his intentions,
at least in the near future. There
is quite general agreement among
those on the inner circle of Wash
ington politics. however, that a de-
sire for public endorsement of his
stewardship will impel him to stand
for reelection.
1t is upon this presumption, at
any rate, that those who want 20
see him remain in the White House
for another four years are proceed
ing. Included in the group of ais
friends who have been in conference
here are some of the men who led
the successful pre-convention cam
paign of 1920. and some who came
over to the Harding ranks from
other camps after the convention
was over. AS a result, the ultimate
lineup of the Harding forces of
1924 is expected to resemble only N
part the organization that fought
and triumphed in the nominatNsN
fight OF three years ago.
Attorney General Daugherty, who
was the pre-convention manager for
Mr.. Harding in 1920, is expected to
again take hand in urging a re-
nomination. But for several rea-
sons, Mr.. Raugherty is not expected
by his friends to be as active as he
was in 1920. His health recently
failed him, requiring him to remain
in bed for several weeks. and al
though he has virtually recovered,
he cannot take the burden of travel
and conference which would fall
upon an active campaign manager.
In addition his official duties In the
department of justice are expected
to preclude him from being long ab-
sent from Washington during the
campaign.
Several men who have long been
prominent in party affairs have been
mentioned as available for the more
strenuous work of organization.
Charles d. Hilles. a former national
chairman, is one of those so con-
c,i1 L. kakn
ment thus far as to what part he
would be willing to take in the pre-
convention work. Recently Mr.. Hill
les conferred with the president and
together they visited Mr.. Daugherty
in his sick room.
In the background of these con-
sideration lies also the question Of
who is to manage the Republican
campaign after the nomination has
been made. The supporters of John
T. Adams, the present national
chairman, say they expect him to
retain that post regardless of the re-
suit of the nominating convention.
Discussions of the subject here re-
Gently have brought to light, how
ever, an attempt by the friends of
VIII Fl. Hays, who managed the 1920
campaign, to reinstate him in the
chairmanship.
The exact strength of the Hays
boom is yet to be demonstrated but
it is receiving serious notice among
the coterie of Harding supporters
who are laying the groundwork for
his denomination. 1t is realized
that if Mr.. Harding is re-nominated
it will be for him to say whether he
desires to again seek the services of
the man who was at the helm when
the party rolled up its record-break-
ing majority of 1920.
All of these subjects seem likely
to be threshed over very soon after
Mr.. Harding concludes the months
vacation in Florida for which he viii
leave Washington early next week.
Attorney General Daugherty, in
whom the President recently has ex-
pressed anew his complete conf
dence, will be one of the guests on
the Florida houseboat trip and after
it is concluded it is possible that Mr.
Harding and at least part of the
party will proceed to Ohio to spend
a few days on home soil. There he
will have an opportunity to see Re-
publican state leaders and examine
the Republican organization of his
home state, which last November
elected a Democratic governor.