The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-24
A Non-Partisian View
Of the Situation.

vi l1IC 01tud(IOl4.
Few men who were and are inter-
ested in the success of the Wilson
campaign to secure the nomination of
the New Jersey governor as the Dem
ocratic standardbearer believe that his
it's support Of him has hurt his
chances for securing the nomination.
The Christian Science Monitor,
which is altogether a -non-partisan
publication, gives a sound and fair
discussion of the subject which may
be taken as a fair test of how the
break was taken by those who are not
directly interested. 1t says:
Years before the exigencies of
Princeton university's internal con-
tentions and the opportunities Of New
Jerseys politics led Woodrow Wilson
to enter the field of practical state
craft he was doomed for the presi
dency of the United States by Harper's
Weekly, edited by George M. Harvey.
Now Mr.. Harvey announces that he
has been requested to forego further
championship of Mr. Wilson's candi-
dacy by Mr.. Wilson himself, and in
proof of his abiding loyalty the editor
consents to be dumb henceforth. Com
menting upon the situation, the New
York World says that the affair is
without precedent in American politics
or journalism. Possibly it is so. But
these are unusual times. Many tradi
tions are being shattered; many prece-
~
son is not the first public man who
has been injured by his champions.
The fact that differentiates him from
some public men is his moral courage
and his refusal to be Handicapped for
wide public appeal by any false no
ton of loyalty or gratitude to an in
dividual, The test of the reality of
the friendship in such circumstances
lies in the candor of one party and IN
the willingness of the other to accept
the tacitaI advice of the one most
intimately concerned with victory or
defeat, Mr.. Harvey wishes Mr.. VIII
son elected president, and if Mr.. Will
son, after sounding public sentiment
over a wide region, finds that the role
of godfather as played by Mr.. Harvey
initiates against the Wilson candi
dacy, why, of course, the polite as
well as the just course for the editor
is to stop booming the former edu-
Gator.
Mr.. Harvey is undergoing an ex-
perience which neither Carl Schurz
nor George William Curtis. former
editors of the journal Of civilization"
was called upon to endure. 1t has not
been common for editors to be en-
Joined by public men to modify their
praise and curb their loyalty. Usually
the politician seeks the publicity and
support. But Mr.. Wilson is not n
politician, and Mr.. Harvey is more
than an editor: he is a symbol. Hence
the episode.
The Wilson Harvey episode will not
sons nomination, but it will, if any
| thing, help him. Surely no one would
| argue that it makes him any the less
desirable as a president.
1t is fact that the papers raising
the cry that Wilson has ruined his
chances are doing so because they
hope that he has. The Journal does
not know of any paper which had
given Wilson it's support before the
incident that has changed since.
Those who are attempting to dis
| credit him now have failed to do SO
before on any legitimate ground. Mr..
[ Harvey probably believes that Wilson
is the best man for president. Harvey
is probably big enough to understand
the situation, and since he is making
no complaint the others should sup
port their candidates and let Mr.. VIII
! sor alone.