Evening star., 1923-03-19
Dougherty Says He
Sought to Nip
Others Hopes.
Way No,U Open for
Vigorous Fight
for Reelection.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright. 1873. by The STAR


MIAMI BEACH. Fla. March 10
Why did Attorney General Daughtery
make at this time announcement OF
the candidacy of President Harding
for denomination when the republican
national convention itself does not
meet for more than a year?
The writer asked the Attorney Gen
eral that question today and his inn
mediate reply was Ito let the Pres
ident'S friends in the republican
party know what is coming and 10
challenge those who are not his
friends"
1t will he of interest also TO the
public to learn that Mr.. Daugherty
did not have any conversation with
President Harding concerning the
press on Saturday. MIR. Harding did
not know about il until after the
newspaper men had been in con-
ference with the Attorney General.
This does not mean that Mr.. Hard
ing withholds his approval. On the
contrary the plan to have Mr.. Hard
ing become a candidate for renoml-
nation was agreed upon a long time
to know that the statement issued
at Columbus by Mr.. Daugherty Ia 81
autumn, predicting that Mr.. Hard
ing would be a candidate for renom-
ination was made with the knowledge
and approval of the President.
Party Interest Involved.
Mr.. Harding has not been giving
much thought to politics since he
started his vacation. The Attorney
General says Mr.. Harding is the kind
of a man who never has and never
will run after an office and that his
friends have usually taken the lnltia-
tive in political matters. They have
convinced him that it is to the best
interest of the republican party thai
he run again and he has consented tc
be a candidate.
All this was understood and dis
cussed in a series of conferences
which occurred before the Presiden1
left for Florida. This correspondent
has learned that Will Hays. Or
Hubert Work; now Secretary 1is OF In
Albert d. Lasker. chairman of tht
United states Shipping Board. anc
Charles u. Hilles. republican nationa
committeeman from New YORK ane
formerly chairman of the republican
national committee itself, were among
those who participated in the in
formal conferences. They dld no,
decide lust when the announcement
of the Harding candidacy should bt
made. but Attorney General Daugh'
ertY IelI lIdI lHc piSSNhN ''N1
most opportune time.
Sought TO Nip BOoms.
Mr.. Daugherty was prompted D!
desire to advise those republicans
wbo were thinking OF starting booms
for other candidates that they neet
have no doubt Mr.. Harding woulu W
q candidate There have been rumors
for instance, that the President wa:
tired of the job and would voiuntarls
withdraw. In the absence OF any al
nonncement from him. these repuoll
rans would feel justified in organlz
! inp urinary campaigns for their owl
/! heroes Any one who starts pooii
now knows he is plainly anti-Hafu
! ing. pras;dant know
.bare will be some opposition. MT
/ Daugherty said one man VINO dIw ~
ran would run again. lie meaht oeii
ator La Toilette, who has JUST peg St VI
a campaign of publicity LOT niilis u
at least so the Presidents frienos pe
nsyeNso as toi divert attention IRON
tho accomplishments OF the aoHiiI.is
ration and to turn people TO ~na
Mr.. Daugherty CONSIDERS are o1i,,. noI
vital questions. whether saSot,ii, :
some day will reach the pit pog hefor,
eaIlon is important, but long pelol'
such a situation arises the leoeia
Sovarnment will have turned III
thoughts in that direction 100.
Three Are Mentioned.
Except for Senator La Toilette nj
candidates have yet appeared. Ihers
is soma talk about Senator BoraI
and some discussion about senator
Hiram Johnson of California. az tliis
writing the Presidents close irleluS
doubt whether either ultlmateiy WIZ
he candidate. Maybe the WISH IL
father to the thought, Dut tne
strategy of the movement IS 10 max
! If clear Mr. Harding intendS TO ac.
cent denomination and that ne nas
no intention of retiring from 'hs
! leadership of his party;
Another reason for tne a4nounee
ment is the fact that Mr.. Harding
noIitical advisers want to solldlrS
republicanism everywhere ana pc
gin reviving organizations through
ont the country so that the cam
uaign for reelection will be syste'
maticalIy handled long before the re-
publican convention has met. EVERY
one with practical experience III
politics knows that in the last two
| campaigns the party which startee
| in to work after the nominating
convention had met found itself very
much pressed for time.
But since the republican party know.
who its candidates will be. according
, to the viewpoint of the Harding men
there is no reason to wait till June
1924, to begin work on the reelection
campaign. Attorney General Daughert.
took the responsibility of the announce
ment. but he is so close a friend of tht
! President and took such a prominen