Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-20
GREATEST 0 ON EARTH
DESCRIBED BY HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic J. Rashsn

WASHINGTON, April 20:-The
big circus has come out of winter
quarters and hit the road for a sea-
| son of innumerable performances. 1t
is the same old show, but 1t has been
renovated, refurbished and augment
| cd regardless OF expense until in the
| words OF the ballyhoo artists IL is
bigger and better than ever before,
| ~affording countless thrills and treats
| for young and old. 1t is at once ed
| ucational and entertaining, amusing
and awe-inspiring. It's glittering gall
axy of marvellous marvels is incom-
parable. The splendiferous splendors
of its pageants have never been
equaled.
It is, in short, the greatest show
| on earth. It's main top, or big tent,
is that inverted bowl they call the
sky which houses the entire United
States, and its performers are all
those who desire and hope to be
president Of this fair land, together
with their friends, coadjutors and
co-conspirators.
And II 1t isn't q circus, what is 1t?
It gives the American people every
thing that Barnum said they liked.
It has a. many rings and stages as
there are candidates. There 10 some-
thing going on every moment, and
the performances include all the
time-honored circus stunts from
bareback riding to hippodroming,
and from sleight of hand and Jug
Cling to feats of strength and tumb-
ling and daring deeds on the flying
rings and trapeze. II has more bands
and press agents than were eve
brought together by Barnum or any
Of his successors.
Indeed, the statement may be VEN
tured that it even presents a few
freaks and several clowns, just to
complete the circus-like ensemble,
although there is no disposition to
be so extremely ventureSome as to
name them. Everybody has his own
ideas on that point, anyhow!
But all this is merely by way Of
calling attention to the fact that the
campaign for the presidency Is nov
fairly we'll under way. All the presi-
Dental probabilities and possibilities
are In action. II there Is any doubt
about this reference MAJ be had to
Newspaper headlines and picture Sec
tons and to the pictorial news re-
views OF the movies. What names
and faces are most frequently seen?
Those Of patriots who are willing, II
not anxious, to undertake the re-
sponsibility Of directing the affairs
of state from and after March 4,
1925. And if they or their managers
do not falter or weaken, and IL their
publicity directors do not lose their
cunning, the American public will
not be permitted to forget about
them between nov and the Ides Of
November once removed.
Formal Opening In Florida
The formal opening, as far as the
Republicans r concerned, may be
said to have taken place in Florida
when Attorney General Daugherty
found or took occasion to announce
that President Harding would be a
candidate for denomination and re-
election. 1t Is scarcely credible that
anyone entertained any serious
doubts as 10 the Presidents candi-
dacy, but there had been rumors
that Mr.. Harding, for reason or
another, might decide to step aside,
and the Daugherty interview spiked
the rumors.
In the Hood Of newspaper COM
ment and speculation that followed
10 was said that the Presidents
friends were divided In their opinions
az to the wisdom OF the course taken
by the attorney general. Some OF
them were said to believe that
Daugherty had done the right thing,
at the right time, while others held
that the procurement was prema.
ture and ill-advised. 1t was even in
timated that the President himself
was not altogether pleased.
However, there was never any
thing more than an intimation Of
that character. and the important
thing to remember Is that a food Of
Newspaper comment and speculation
did epgue when Daugherty made his
statement. A discussion was pro-
voked In the course of which the
Presidents friends had abundant
opportunity TO get before the public
all the reasons for the Presidents
succeeding himself, and IL that II not
playing politics according to the best
accepted standards of the game Mr..
Daugherty would not be smiling so
serenely and the managers Of other
candidates would not be biting their
nails and emitting low means of
anguish.
Whatever else they may say Of
him now, and whatever history may
record az to his varied activities, it