The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-23
MORALE OF
REPUBLICANS
CRUMBLING
Leaders in Washington Agree
Chance of Harding's Re-
Election Is Slim,
BY JOHN CARSON
Times Staff Correspondent

Times Staff Correspondent
Wv WASHINGTON. July 23.-The
w morale Of that part of the Re-
publican party remaining In
Washington has gone.
Call it sour grapes" the buck
ague" or anything you wish, or just
ascribe it to an ability to discover a
silver lining-the fact is, Republican
leaders in Congress are now insisting
a Democratic victory in 1924 will
benefit the Republican party.
They can't do any more than we
have. and the result will be a reac-
ton against them" insisted one Of
the most prominent Republican Sena-
iii 1924 will result in burying the
Democratic party. Wen get a favor
able reaction before 1926"
That is just evidence of the mental
slant of the Republicans. Invariably
they agree the chance for reelection
of President Harding is very slim and
it will be less as the months roll
around
Other Factors Hurt Party
To this lack of spirit is added va
rious other factors which have hurt
the party organization and especially
hurt it so long as the President is
regarded as the party leader These
factors are:
Growing dissatisfaction within the
Presidents Cabinet. 1t is now known
the Cabinet members upon whom the
President leaned most a year ago are
irritated and discouraged. One res
ignation is not an impossibility.
Concern among the Senators and
Representatives over their own politi-
cal future. Unmistakable tendencies
are noticed among Senators to look
out for themselves and this attitude of
every man for himself is about the
peak Of party disintegration.
Leader Is Needed
Within the last two days I've had
one Senator, a stalwart Republican OF
the old school. tell me that the coun-
try needed a Roosevelt or a Wilson"
But this man Harding is not that.
and he can't be changed" he con-
tinued. He's not strong now when
we need a strong man. He's weak ana
he's flirting with this and that in an
effort to develop strength, whereas he
should have stuck to the policies OF
the first year OF his Administration"
Some one of the newspaper CORE
spondents with the President suggest
ed Mr.. Harding was talking too
much" Immediately that became a
cry with the Republican Senators.
preaching out there in the West"
exclaimed one Senator with evident de-
rision. why didn't he think about
practicing those things he's preach
ing about during the first two years?~
These are just suggestions OF a
spirit within the party which is omin-
Gus for the President. And most re-
markedly, it is the spirit within the
Old Guard and especially the liberal
Old Guard Of Eastern States. II is de-
velopment of a feeling that the Presi-
dent began playing ohio politics. a
few months ago in order to save him
self and his State The belief the
President had returned to the dictation.
Of Attorney General Daugherty and
cast aside the advice Of such men as
Secretary Of War Weeks and Score
tary Of the Treasury Mellon caused
this resentment.
With this going on, you might say
the party should get rid Of Harding.
But the fact is, it is conceded Mr.
Harding will be the party nominee II
he wants it-and it is agreed now he
wants it and the only question is his
courage in facing the probability of de-
feat
Alternative Is Wise
The real reason why there is no
suggestion among the conservatives to
get rid of Mr. Harding is that the
other alternative is regarded as worse.
With Mr.. Harding out Of the race, the
conservative fear the presidential pos
gibiities of a Pinchot, a Kenyon or
a Hiram Johnson. They'd rather have
a Democrat win the presidency than
have this type of a Republican