Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-03

ters affecting the public interest. The coun-
try has been surfeited with rumors about
the activity in recent years of what has been
called the ohio crowd" in Washington
1t is not called the "Ohio crowd" because
Ohoans, as class, are any more or any
less involved in such matters than residents
of other states 1t might be New York
crowd, New Jersey crowd an Indiana
crowd, or a California crowd, depending on
the state affiliations of the federal admins
tration.
Such a crowd generally, is a coterie OF
politicians that attaches itself to favorite
son president and trades on his name In
the present case, the "Ohio crowd" followed
President Harding to Washington, just as
such crowd followed President Grant
there, years ago. Every president must
guard against his home state crowd or suf
fer the consequences. They are very likely
to embarrass him or his administration.
President Harding, a genial soul, felt TN
his attorney general one of his home state
crowd Mr. Daugherty was an outstanding
figure in the "Ohio crowd" and a politician
of the old school The members of his
crowd rallied around Daugherty and felt
free to make the most of their intimacy with
him.
What the Ohio crowd did in Washing
ton in the last three years is not known
with certainty" remarks the Kansas City
Star. *'President Harding never knew, al
though Washington has heard that he
learned enough about one member of it to
cause such an explosion of executive wrath
as Colonel Forbes late of the veterans bu-
reau, faced under similar circumstances.
President Harding was the victim of his
state crowd as President Grant was of his.
Ohio didn't have popular, genial and ten
der-hearted president for nothing"
The activity of the "Ohio crowd" in
Washington serves to emphasize the wisdom
Of the Turk, whom Addison says permits no
brother to be near the throne. The wise
president should, and does, beware of per-
hitting his home folks too many liberties
and too much intimacy. The home folks are
likely to get an idea that the president is
their own personal property, with only
secondary obligation to the country at large.
If such an impression gains foOthold,
politicians office seekers, favor hunters, 81
knew hh-when parasites" and the like
usually descend on Washington, clamoring
for place and position without the slightest
regard for the fitness of things.
President Wilson recognized the danger
not only of the type, but also the danger of
personal jntimacies with politicians during
his eight years at the White House. In his
entertaining and Illuminating history of
Woodrow Wilson, now appearing in The
Journal, David Lawrence explains Mr.. VIII
sons isolation during his administration,
quoting him to this effect
Here in Washington there is such a cray
ing to get close to the presidency-as If
there was something really important about
it that would rub off-that many cannot re-
sist the inclination to brag and boast that
they are in the presidents confidence. This
not only may not hurt some good friend and
supporter but in time it may destroy
the effectiveness of others. All Of
this simply means that q president must
isolate himself during his term Of office"
1t is too unfortunate that the lamented
President Harding did not have the same
conception, for, from the rumors afIQat and
indeed, from disclosures already made in
connection with Teapot Dome and the vet
Grams bureau, it is obvious that designing
and selfish politicians made the most of
their relations to feather their nests
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