Evening star., 1923-02-27
LSSEEN
AS 1924 CANDIDATE
Belief Grows He Will Face
Electorate on Basis of His
Administration Next Year.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
President Harding's closest friends
now are convinced he is definitely pre-
pared to accept denomination in 1924.
Only the unexpected-Aa relapse in the
condition of Mrs. Harding. mainly-will
change his mind. The entire situation
will be canyaSsed in detail during the
presidential vacation in Florida. on
which the Hardings will be surrounded
by numler of their intimate friends.
political and social. 1t is possible some
definite intimation of the Presidents
1924 intentions may we'll up from the
south in March.
President Sees Clearly.
This writer has been supplied with
cross section of Mr.. Hardings point
of view by member Of his admins
tration. than whom no one is better
qualified to speak more authoritativeiy.
The authority in question says the Pres
ident is under no illusions as to the
conditions in which the republican party
will enter the 1924 campaign.
They are conceded, viewed at this
date. to be disadrantageous and even
as presagmg defeat. q. .. p. leaders
are confident conditions will alter to
the better during the next year. But
whether they do or not Mr.. Harding is
represented to be ready to take what
ever medicine may be in store for the
party. AS a party man through and
through and as official leader OF the
republican organization. the President
is said TO look upon it as his elementary
duty to lead it into the 1924 fray. He
recognizes that there may be a licking"
in prospect. but, if there is. regards that
he is the one 70 take it, because the
campaign is bound to be fought around
the record of the Harding administra-
ton.
VIII Rage Around Harding.
Whether the issue is Americas inter
national policy. or some paramount
domestic question like national owner
ship OF railroads or agricultural re-
form. the battle will rage around what
the Harding regime did. or cid not do.
AS the incarnation of such issues, the
President considers his place is on the
firing line, to go forward or to go down,
as the fates may decree. II can be said
with fair assurance that this is the
White House political program, un-
less developments not now contemplated
intervene.
Mr.. Harding's political friends are
convinced he will not have to make
any real contest for denomination. ex-
cept in a few northwestern states
which La Toilette may challenge. No
danger now is said to threaten from
Hiram Johnson's side. although some
of his extreme admirers insist John
son viii be contender whether
Harding is or not. Some of the
angels on whom Johnson will have
to depend for the sinews of war arc
loyal supporters of the President. and
only on the condition it involves no
rivalry to Warren G. Harding.
LOwden May He Contender.
Former Gov. Frank Q. Lowden, TOO.
will enter the lists for the 1924 nom
ination only in case Mt. Harding is
not an aspirant. If the President re-
tires and creates free field. John
son and Lowden will be the principal
republican antagonists before the ma
tional convention. Senator Brookhart
VIII attempt TO force Judge William
lette Will renew his designs on the
nomination. Senator Capper of Kan
sas will be among the entries, too.
One OF President Hardings final
dCtS DelOTe leaving Tor Florida
be the nomination of Senator Harry
8. New of Indiana as Postma ster
General in succession TO DIR. Hubert
Work. promoted to the secretaryship
of the interior Mr.. Harding was
not frightened out of his determina-
by the certainty that it would split
the G. o. p. in Indiana wide open.
Men intimated at the White House
that Indiana:s electoral vote would be
fy1l 70 hA i
paign for reelection that it was the
worst kind of politics and strategy
at this time unnecessarily to ALLEVIATE
Hoosier republicans Even
the threat the New appointment will
lose Indiana to the party in 1924
left Mr.. Harding cold. He prom
ised his intimate friend the post
master generalship and that's an
end of the matter. If it costs him
Indiana next year-why. make the
Presidents attitude toward the in
ternecine strife the New episode has
caused
Subsidy Dcfeat DepIored.
The defeat Of the ship subsidy is
deeply deplored by the President. but
he will not take it lying down when
he appears before the country next
summer and fall on his swing-around-
ths-circle. Mr.. Hardings friends be-
lieve the Senate's action, instead of
a knock for the administration, can
be converted into a boost" The
President will be found full of fight
on the subsidy proposition when he
confronts the home, folks, later in the
year. He does not, by any means
look upon the tactics that encompass
ed the bills overthrow last week as
the peoples voice on the subject of
an American merchant marine.
Copyright, 1921
SELZNlCK May QUIT.