The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-16
HENRI W1TTERSON FOB PREST-
DENT

The Star-eyed Goddess of Reform is
coming to the front Henri Watterson,
one of the last of the old school of news
paper editors, has been taken with the
political fever. He. so says a report,
wants TO be governor of Kentucky and
thsn-maybe he will buck the tiger in
the next Democratic convention. Gov
ernor Henri Watterson, of Kentucky is
all right. Mr. Watterson would honor
the state by accepting the Office. 1t may
be that his ambition to be president would
not meet with the hearty approval of
Mr.. William ]. Bryan, of the Commoner.
Mr.. Watterson and Mr.. Bryan have not
agreed en- every subject of late. But
nevertheless, Mr.. Bryan having risen to
be the head of a great newspaper, he will
not allow any personal difference of
opinion on finance or territorial expan-
sion to influence him in case where the
ambitions of a brother in arms is at
issue. Henri Watterson for governor of
Kentucky ought, and will get the united
support of the press. of his state. Henri
WattersOn as a candidate for president
ought to get the support of the entire
press of the nation, but he won't Mr..
Watterson as an editor is a great man
he is eccentric, somewhat spectacular.
as are all Kentuckians: he is fearless
aggressive and picturesque.
Would he make good president? Yes,
and no. His experience in life and his
close acquaintance with public affairs
from the outside has given him breadth
of knowledge which ought to stand him
We'll in stead should he be allowed to
occupy the White house But he has
told the world and his countrymen ton
much-he has read them too many lee
lures on their misdeeds and their foibles
to ever be forgiven to the extent neces-
sary to an election A newspaper man
should curb his ambitions. Some things
are beyond his reach. Not because he is
unworthy or Incompetent, but because he
i unavailable He usually knows too
much and has said to much. Over the
door OF the editorial sanctum let If be
written He who enters here leaves all
hope to be president of the United States
behind Henri Watterson would meet
the fate of Greedy should he be so I'M
fortunate as to secure a nomination Rv
this same token William J. Bryan is for
ever eliminated from the problem of
presidential candidates. He has left oil
hope bennd
e A newspaper man may get into the
cabinet, he may be sent abroad as consul
or minister; he may even, if he is par
ticularly bad, be sent to congress-
few have managed to go to the senate
as a compromise between a millionaire
and a boodler. But as general PROPOSE
ton when it comes to polling votes. the
editor is found too honest to cringe and
crawl sufficiently to secure the popular
vote His life as a leader in the realm
OF thought has totally untitled him for
a place in the political tool chest where
the bosses wish to put him His con-
tempt for high sounding platitudes rem
ders him unfit for stump speaking, and
consequently he is not a vote-getter.
No, Watterson had better stay where
he is If he wants to play with the Ken
lucky governorship and run the risk of
being shot from the state house window.
that is his affair. But his friend William
j. Bryan can tell him something about
the presidential bee which viii be of last
ing benefit to him.