It cut and
slashed indiscriminately the President's policies. For the first
time Harvey took on the guise of a Republican among Republicans. He
even aided and abetted, with amused cynicism, the groping and
fumbling of Republican leaders who were dazzled at the sudden break
in the political clouds which had so long enshrouded them. He
helped raise the funds used to counteract the league propaganda and
toured the country in opposition to it.
The next shift in scenes was as much beyond Mr. Harvey's power of
manipulation as it was beyond most of the Republicans who now
sagaciously give the impression that their hands were on the ropes.
Stories have been told of the great part Mr. Harvey played in the
nomination of Mr. Harding. Mr. Harvey did not go to Chicago with
the intention of supporting Mr. Harding any more than any other of
the candidates, except Wood and Hiram Johnson, whom he despised.
He and the Senate oligarchy that coyly took the credit for
nominating Mr. Harding turned to him when it was manifest that the
machinery was stalled. Mr. Harding owes his nomination to a mob of
bewildered delegates. It was not due to a wisely conceived nor
brilliantly executed plan.
I doubt very much that George Harvey and President Harding had much
in common until Harvey was invited to Marion. At that time the
"irreconcilables" were beginning to be afraid that Elihu Root and
William H.
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