The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-03-21
ALSO URGED
WOMAN
VOTE ON
HIM

This is the final article based
on an exclusive interview With
Harry M. Ddugherty. In preUda
Ous articles DGugherty defended
has record as Attorney General
as WelL as the character of the
late President Warren G. Hard.
ing, Mnder 10hom he served.
By JAMES L. KILGALLEN
Copyright, 1922 by international
| News servicel
SARASOTA, Fla, March 81.
Harry M. Daugherty, Attorney
General in the Cabinet Of the
late President Warren G..
Harding pictured Mr.. Hard
ing as "a loyal friend and "a
great President in an ex-
elusive interview with Inter-
national News Service at his
winter home here today. He
also reminisced on his long
association with Mr.. Harding
and related several incidents
revealing the vital part he
played in Harding's career.
''Harding was like a younger
he recalled 1.-The old days when
he and Mr.. Harding were both in
politics IL Ohio. "I enjoyed every
minute Of my association with
him. He was the most charming
man / ever knew. We had one
big Highland only one. But
won't tell you what it was about
Daugherty was asked to reveal
! the extent of his influence with
the late President, and this was
his reply:
Had Mind of His Own
"They thought because I was
close to President Harding and
had helped him in his political rise
| that I was the last word. l was
| in some things, but Mr.. Harding
was a man with a mind of his
own, no one would be appointed
| against my protest, but Harding
| selected his own cabinet.
81 always stood for the Presi-
dent against his Cabinet If he was
right, and for the President and
the Cabinet against Congress II
they were right, and for Congress
and the President and the Cabinet
if they were all right"
Discussing the "old days" when
Mr.. Harding was United States
Senator from Ohio, Daugherty said
he was convinced at that time that
Harding was of presidential caliber.
He said he made a tour Of the
country feeling out sentiment and
returned to Washington and
talked to Harding. Then Mr..
Harding made several speeches and
Daugherty studied their effect.
/ In the Big Circus
Harding and were talking in
my den in Washington at o'clock
in the morning and he asked me-
| with some doubt in his voice II I
| really thought he should run for
the highest office in the land"
Daugherty related.
IT said to him: IF it were I'd
go into the big circus"
HE replied: I'm going to do just
as you say. Harry"
1T said: You can't do as I say.
I don't want the responsibility.
80 Harding. made his own de-
cision."
Daugherty said that it was he
| who suggested to Harding that the
latter should advocate prohibition
| and woman suffrage. He revealed
this upon declining to give his
views on prohibition and dry en-.
forcement.
st was author of the resolution
that committed the Republican party
to prohibition in Chi" said Daugh'
erty. Harding was chairman of the
| convention and / was chairman OF
| the committee on resolutions. l
| thought that, inasmuch as Harding
| was going to be President, that he
would stand for two things-woman
suffrage and prohibition. I saw they
were coming. However, I never CO.
operated with the Anti-Saloon
League.
Harding was a very attractive
man. I thought when the war was
over the people wanted a man Of
peace-a kindly man. Harding was
a, man of peace. Gen. Leonard Wood
was military. Everyone thought
Wood would be elected. Harding did,
too. said no, he would not. I told
Harding he would be elected.
Liked LOWden
ST liked Gov. Frank o. Lowden.
of Illinois, also prominently men,
toned for the Presidency. His
birthday and mine are on the same
day.
IT watched this political battle
closely and did what 1 could for
Harding, I always stood in the
background and left others lead
off. I took what happened phil
osphically. If I got results that
suited me. I felt happy and re-
| paid for my efforts"
| Daugherty declared he never
craved power and that he did not
want to be named Attorney Gen.
eral of the United States. He
wanted to continue as lawyer.
but, he said. he permitted Presi'
dent Harding to prevail upon him
to accept the post.
"It was in st. Augustine. Fla,
that Harding put this attorney.
| generalship on me-" Daugherty
said" didn't want it."
Daugherty said that he and Hard
ing made enemies in carrying out
government policies. Daugherty
said Harding took office at a tima