San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-28

spoke on behalf of Mr.. Harding,
though many newspapermen naturally
presumed that, because the President
and Mr.. Daugherty were both in
Miami, matter of such Importance
must have been thoroughly canvassed
with the Chief Executive before be-
ing disclosed to the press.
When the attorney general sent for
the newspapermen and made his pre-
dietion that Mr.. Harding would be re-
nominated and reelected, the signifi-
canoe of formal announcement was
Immediately attached to his utter
ance.
The President did not see the news
papers until the next morning. when
he had already left Miami and there
has been no chance since for him TO
converse with the attorney general, as
the latter has been sojourning at
Miami on the advice of his physician,
'while' the President has been slowly
cruising northward along the Florida
coast.
Even Daugiierty Surprised.
Mr.. Daugherty was as much sur
prised over the effect his announce
ment produced. as were members of
the Presidential party. The attorney
general promptly told this correspond
ent that he had not talked the mat
ter over with Mr.. Harding on the
Florida trip. but that he had made
the statement so as TO advise the
Presidents friends throughout the
country of what was coming.
1t is fact that Mr.. Daugherty
laid before the President the state
ment issued at Columbus last fall
when the question of Mr.. Harding's
availability for next fall was put up
to the Republican party. it being as
serted that if the Republican party
wanted him to run again he would be
compelled to do so.
All the discussion meanwhile as to
whether formal announcement
should have been made at this time,
turns upon whether it is a wise thing
for Mr.. Harding, with a session Of
Congress ahead of him and with a
transcontinental speaking tour
scheduled for this summer, TO appear
in the role of an active man seeking
the nomination. Mr.. Harding wants it
understood he is not seeking renomin-
alton and will not take a single step
TO solicit the favor of the party that
has honored him in the past.
Mr.. Daugherty's purpose was not
to start the 1924 campaign this early.
but to squelch much of the talk that
Mr.. Harding was tired of the job and
would voluntarily withdraw and all
that sort Of thing. He wanted TO set
rumOrs at rest and he hoped his state
ment would dispose of the matter and
nothing more would be heard or said
about it for year or more when the
usual pre-conyention activity would
begin.
Campaign Is Launched.
But what Mr.. Daugherty did has
not been accepted as a casual episode
and the President has since learned,
from reading the newspapers, that his
candidacy has been regarded as
launched tIst as much as if he had
signed the announcement himself.
The President owes Harry Daugl-
erty so much for his management of
the pre-convention campaign in 1920,
and he is 80 fond of him personally.
that he would be the last man in the
world to utter word of criticism
OF the attorney general.
But the latter. on the other hand,
is such an astute and courageous
political manager that il he thought
there had been wrong impression
conveyed by the tenor of his informal
remarks TO the newspapermen, he
would not hesitate to assume respon-
sibility for the initiative he took and
clear the President of any connection
with the announcement made in
Miami.
For all practical purposes, Mr..
Daugherty's statement remains fact,
irrespective of whether it is later de-
cided that it would be advantageous
to disassociate the President from any
apparent effort to seek denomination.
The president is ready to accept re-
nomination. His close friends have
advised him of their purpose to go
ahead and make sure of his re-nom-
nation.
Willing to Accept.
He has told them that as Republic
can leaders they have that preroga-
i've. One of these friends. the attor-
ney' general. has gone so far as TO
predict that his denomination was as
sured. That is his own optimistic view
ana PROBABLY will be verified by the
Republican national convention, but
1t IS almost foregone conclusion that
II Mr.. Harding had been consulted
a0ost the announcement made at
Miami he would have vetoed it as
inOpportune.
But there again he is willing to ac-
cept the verdict of his friends. Some
of them insist il was a goC thing TO
squelch in their infancy the boomlets
of other Republicans because of the
dangers of factionafism in the next
Congress. Other feel there will be a
better chance of welding the party elc-
ments into working unit when it is
known the President is preparing to
go to, the country to appeal for sup
port for the Republican party not sim
ply on the basis of his own record,
but the performance of the majority
Marty in bOth bougo. G CaDurnsg