Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-30
Withdrawal From Among
Candidates Would
Mince Matters
WILL CHANGE PLANS
Western Tour Will be in
Form Of Free Discus
sion of Non-Political
Matters.
(By Isaac Gregg

Washington, March 30.-Close
personal and political friends of
President Harding in Washing
/ ten declared today that the dis
cussion now going on of the ad-
visibility of Attorney General
Daugherty's announcement of the
Presidents candidacy for re-elec-
ton is mere or less academic.
The announcement has been
made, they said, and will stand.
The harm, if any, has been done
and it would only make matters
worse to have the Presidents ad-
yisers null over the wisdom of
Mr.. Daugherty's statement. A
member of the Cabinet is respon-
sible for thesestatements.
About the only tangible result
of the Daugherty statement, it
was declared, will be that the
Presidents Forthcoming western
trip will be curtailed and devoted
TO subjects of non-political mat
ters so far as the President can
confine them. He is anxious to
avoid on this trip the appearance
of making a campaign for renom-
nation but the attitude of his ad-
visors here is that if that APP
nearanca cannot 40 avoided. then
so be it.
Suggestions from Florida that
I the President might issue state
ment declaring he is not at this
time candidate for renomina-
ton were declared here 20 be ab-
surd. 1t was said here that this
would only open the way for the
aspirations of other candidates
who would eagerly seize on the
announcement as an excuse for
making their own canvasses.
J Discord and strife within the
party, already apparent, would
be increased and the result would
prove fatal.
There is no question but that
the Daugherty announcement was
prompted by his probably prem
ature fears of a split within the
party that would make danger
Gus the candidates. OF Senators
La Toilette of Wisconsin, John
son, of California, Capper, of
Kansas and others. Mr.. Daugher-
| ty desired to head off the as
pirations of these men and felt
it would be well to propel the
President into the race at once.
Whether he was right or wrong
it is certain that the Presidents
advisers will stand by the an
nouncement and will permit, if
they can help, no deviation from
it. For the President to say he
/ is not candidate would. in their
opinion. be worse than accepting
the situation as it is and making
the best of it.
Nor is there any reason to
think that Daugherty might re-
sign because of the Presidents
displeasure at his act. The men
have been friends far too long a
time for the one publicly to de-
grade the other; furthermore the
President is not that type, pre-
ferring to accept the mistakes of
his friends with equanimity no
matter how they might affect his
personal fortunes.
Professor Edmund A. Walsh,
Of Washington, through whom
the Vatican appeal was made for
the release of Catholic prelates
under sentence of death at Mos
cow. is not at this time and has
not been a direct representative
of the American Committee for
Relief in Russia. Professor
Walsh. it was said at the Depart
ment of Commerce today, is a
representative OF the Nationa!
Catholic Welfare Council, which,
with othr sectarian organizations
has been cooperating with The
American Relief Committee and
working under its direction.
In addition to this, Professor
Walsh is in some manner direct
ly representing the Pope in the
work of Russian relief and it is
understood that the Vatican has
been supplying him with money
and food for Russian relief work.
1t was only natural, therefore,
that the appeal for the relief OF
the Catholic prelates should have
, been made through him instead
of through some of the membrs
of the Catholic hierarchy assign
ed TO posts through Russia.