Evening star., 1923-05-06

have authorized it. This was pecu-
liarly unjust to Harding. for as it
happens he is just the sort Of man
who would not do that sort Of thing.
Of propriety as superior to the letter
of the law. The incident cost Hard
ing a good deal. But it was char
acteristic of him that he never
tried publicly to throw the burden on
Lasker's shoulders, although 1t would
| be thoroughly characteristic of Las
ker's generous impulsiveness to do
his best to gather in all the blame to
himself and absolve his friend and
chief. Harding bore it all with his
customary urbanity and with that
fidelity to his friends which is one Of
his most striking characteristics.
Many another President might have
himself. But Harding didn't. The in
cident didn't cause any interruption
in the intimacy of the two men.
Harding found other ways, and de-
of liquor without seeming to rebuke
or humiliate his subordinate.
Given Credit for Success.
Practically everybody, even those
who, in the phrases quoted above,
whisper about Lasker behind his
back, comedies his business energy
and comedies the fact that he has
made success of the Shipping Board
as much of a success as anybody
can make of any business institution
that has to be run under the limita-
tions of government red tape. One
ought not to state this other than
strongly. Lasker has made a really
striking success out of a thing which
before he took hold Of it was about
as unhappy mess as Washington
has seen for long time.
There is a good deal OF speculation
about Lasker's political beginnings
future. For many years-in fact, for
all of his career since he was twenty
one-Lasker was owner-owner and
everything else-of the Chicago ad-
veryising Arm known as Lord &
Thomas. Under his ownership it was
commonly said to be the biggest ad-
vertising agency in the country or in
the world.
Lasker invented ways of selling
with which he used to gallop up and
Lasker invented ways Of selling
automobiles, breakfast foods. soaps
and every other sort Of commodity.
He was a "go-getter." a man who
put things Overland put them over
with a bang.
His Turning to Politics.
Lasker turned to politics. What his
motive may have been no one can know,
although a good many people indulge In
tho liberty Of guessing one motive or
another. Possibly he was just plain
tired Of making money, Of selling
things and still more things. and
longed for some different sort of game
as an outlet for his furious and un-
ceasing energy.
Lasker's first entry into national
politics was as the friend and one of
the managers of the fortunes of
eampaiSn % Of 1880. Whether Las
ker had any particular identity with
Johnson's policies and political ideas,
or whether he had merely made up his
mind to get into politics and consid-
opening as any other. as to that any
body is at liberty to guess. In any
event. Lasker threw himself into
Johnson's effort to get the republican
nomination with his customary head
long energy. He really thought John
SON was going to succeed. Lasker is
of the temperament that always
thinks his man is going to win the
race.
johnson lost. But Lasker didn't lose
with Lasker to be in anything at all
Is to be in the heart Of it. After
Harding got the nomination, and after
the front-porch campaign of Marion
was under way, Lasker appears to
have turned up at Marion and tender
cd his services. In the terminology
Of advertising and salesmanship. he
sold himself" to Harding. which
means that he persuaded Harding to
set a-rather high value on his services
and his personality.