MR. HARDING’S PROSPECTS.

A POSSIBLE “THIRD PARTY.”

From Our Own Correspondent. New York, Monday.

Mr. Harding’s victory pleases the Republicans generally, and particularly the business interests, including Wall Street, which likes a safe man. The only fly in the ointment seems to be Senator Lafollette, who is opposed to the League of Nations tooth and nail, and may “bolt” the Republican organisation and form a third party. The same thing was said about Senator Hiram Johnson, but the latest reports indicate that the Californian will remain within the pale. As to the new party, which is to present a “new constructive programme”, with Mr. Lafollette as the leading attraction, I hear that it has already been organised in thirty States and is prepared to put its electoral ticket on the ballots in every State.

In the meantime, Mr. Harding has arrived at Washington, where he is greeted already as a conquering hero. Nothing but a miracle or the most atrocious strategy on the part of the Republicans, it is declared, can give victory to the Democrats next November.

Not alone is the adjective “safe” applied by Republican leaders to the nominees for the Presidency and Vice-presidency, but also to the plank of the Republican platform relating to the Peace Treaty and the League. It is safe in the sense that it may mean little or a lot, according to the interpretation which may be placed on the wording of the plank if the Republicans are returned to power. “It doesn’t preclude”, observes the New York Tribune, “acceptance of the League of Nations and ratification of the Treaty, but neither does it preclude a violent repudiation of them both. The party of ideas did not, on this subject, think it safe to express in plain language whatever ideas it may have had.”

Impartial critics untied by party and uncommitted to any candidate express the view that the plank, which is attributed to the advice of Mr. Elihu Root, cabled to Chicago when the convention was deadlocked, is “good enough. “By good enough” is meant that the electors in November will have the chance they desired of saying, whether America shall remain isolated in the world or associated with other nations.

IRISH IRRITATION.

I learn that the Irish faction here are very bitter because they failed utterly in their attempt to secure an Irish “plank” in the Republican platform. The Irish leaders shook the dust of Chicago from their feet, and are marching toward San Francisco in the hope that they will do better with the Democratic Convention. In view of Mr. Wilson’s declaration that the Irish question is a matter of domestic politics for Great Britain, and that he has repeatedly declined to budge from that attitude, it is difficult to see how they can still hope for the recognition of the “Irish Republic”, which the Republicans refused. I hear that the Irish were split into two parties at Chicago, one, led by Frank Walsh, asking for a plank embodying the demand for “recognition without intervention” favoured by De Valera, while the plank framed by Justice Cohalan merely expressed sympathy with Irish aspirations.

Amongst the thousands who greeted the Republican nominee at Washington were many journalistic friends who reminded Mr. Harding of his statement made a few weeks ago that he would rather “make up” the front page of a daily newspaper than go to the White House. Mr. Harding laughed and said times were changed.

CANDIDATE’S CAREER.

From Our Own Correspondent. New York, Sunday Night. Ever since 1904 Senator Harding’s name has been “prominently mentioned” for various offices. He became popular on provincial platforms, and spoke for many causes. He developed a genius for pleasing every faction, and one more or less cynical observer once declared that the files of the Ohio newspapers would reveal him as standing, according to the time and place of his professions, on every side of every question that was at issue.

As a politician his strength developed rapidly. Though the Republican is reputed to be “the party of privilege” he was popular with the Labour party and the unions because he found time to make his newspaper a co-operative establishment. Mr. Harding supported the ratification of the Versailles Treaty with reservations defining American policy and tradition. He is by no means to be classed with the “irreconcilables”, or the Senate “Battalion of Death” which tried to kill the Treaty at any cost. He is against prohibition.