Watson, Plank-Builder

A week ago Attorney General Daugherty, in a curtain speech, said that Mr. Harding would appear in the great political production of 1924. Shortly afterwards Senator James E. Watson of Indiana allowed himself to be heard hammering down the planks which the Presidential feet will tread during the coming drama. In comparative isolation aboard the Pioneer, Mr. Harding was apparently keeping his own counsel and making his own plans. It is understood, however, that in a nation-wide tour next summer the President will make 20 speeches--in which case he will have to have something to talk about. Inasmuch as the President seems by all odds the man most likely to head his party's ticket in 1924, Republican leaders are naturally interested. The subjects of the President's remarks will doubtless define in a general way the issues of the 1924 election. At St. Augustine the day before Mr. Harding's arrival, Senator Watson announced the tentative plans for the President's speeches, as ar- rived at by "discussion with his advisors." According to the Senator: The foremost of the proposed issues which the President will take to the people is the question of lower railroad rates. This program will probably include unification of the Railroad Labor Board and the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the merging of roads into sectional systems. The President's second issue will be opposition to the direct primary. He is understood to favor, if not a return to the convention system of nominating candidates, at least no extension of the system to presidential elections. The third proposal on the President's tentative program is a discussion of the shipping problem--the matter on which he met defeat in the last Congress. A fourth possibility is the World Court. This point, Senator Watson admitted, Mr. Harding had not discussed with his advisors. It is evident that Republican leaders are at best lukewarm in seconding the suggestion for a World Court. They are evidently very dubious of the advisability of such a move. It yet remains to be seen whether the President will override their hesitancy and take the lead on his own initiative. The trend of Republican opinion seems definitely to be that domestic prosperity will be the determining factor in the 1924 campaign. With this in mind, the railroad problem should be the most important issue, the question of tariff and taxes would be best left untouched and the World Court would be a very dangerous issue to meddle with. Upon this the " best minds " of the Republican Party seem agreed.