The Washington herald., 1915-05-30
A Million Want Mann.

100000 voters IN the west nave slSHeQ d pctl-
ton requesting the Hon. James R. Mann to be-
come candidate for the Republican nomination
for President. There were about 100000 votes
cast for President in 1912. and a petition signed
by per cent of the voters of the United States
is respectable call and compliment which any
man ought to appreciate. Mr.. Mann has been
member of the House for eighteen years and
he has given very good account OF himself from
the beginning of his service. He has, for the
last ten years. been one of the conspicuous men,
bcrs, and for four years leader of the minority,
with many Democrats recognizing him as leader
of the House in parliamentary knowledge and
practice. 1t has even been said that when the
Democrats of the House abandoned the old Can
non rules they forced to adopt Jim Mann
their parliamentary authority and refer all dis
puted points in their own manual to him for set
Element. However that may be, Mr.. Mann will
be the Republican leader in the House next
winter, and he will have larger and more united
following than in the past four years. The ma
joritv party recognizes his efficiency, his indus
try and his ability to make trouble.
II the administration is compelled to again
amend the tariff law to secure more revenue, Mr.
Mann will have opportunity to make clear the
party differences the tariff and keep the Dem
ocrats busy explaining the defects in the Under
WOOD law. ney ADMIT tnat tn1S VIII DC IdSS-
ing to them, and that it will give Mr. Mann poti-
cal advantages not only for his party, but for
himself as the Republican leader who may be
called upon to oppose President Wilson in the
next Presidential campaign, for it is gener-
ally conceded that Mr.. Wilson will be the Demo-
| cratic candidate 1t is never wise to underesti-
mate the strength of your antagonist, and the
followers OF President Wilson do not underesti-
mate the strength OF James r. Mann, especially
when much OF the campaign must be fought in
the coming session of Congress, where he will
he the leader of the opposition.
The positive note OF warning-one might
say veto OF Mr.. Manns candidacy-comes from
the Rev. p. A. Baker, general superintendent OF
the Anti-Saloon League. who has given out state
ment that ''if the Republican party wants in
sure its defeat in advance in the next PresiGcn-
tial election the way to do it is to nominate
Mann" HI adds that the united temperance
forces will oppose Mr.. Mann. This is not very
temperate declaration from a protested temper
ancc man. and it remains to be what the
million petitioners to Mann to become cand-
date will do about it. Probably pay attention
to it, as great bodies OF men and usually
ignore the who jumps into the arena
and warns them that they arc rushing to destruc-
ton.
but suppose MI bdheG Is dDle 10 speak loI
Temperance or rather the prohibition forces, for
the objection to Mann is his objection TO the
Hobson resolution for national prohibition, last
winter Mr.. Baker calls attention TO that act Of
Mr. Mann President Wilson was also opposed
to the HobSon resolution, and he has taken OPP
portnnity only recently to reiteratc mis- oppos-
ton to national and even Statewide prohibition.
What will these united Temperance forces do in
the emergency if Wilson and Mann tire oppos-
ing candidates? If they opposed to Mann on
prohibition, they must also be opposed to Wilson
on the same issue. They have choice but that
OF prohibitionsts in the past. They must abandon
their alleged nonpartisan position and go over to
the Prohibition party. There are now eighteen
States which have adopted Statewide prohib-
tion and these eighteen States have I57 OF the
53I electoral votes One-half OF these States are
in the South and they have two-thirdS OF these
~ electoral votes. Mr.. Wilson will not worry
about losing any of these Southern electoral votes
because OF his opposition to prohibition Rcpub-
lican candidates for President have lost all the
States in the North which NOW have prohibition,
and have been elected. Mr. Baker calls attention
to the fact that a majority OF TIC House voted
ior the Hob>on amendment. and that a majority
OF the members from thirty States voted for that
amendment. But those thirty States which are
claimed having a majority for the Hobson
amendment all told have only $40 of the 53I
electoral votes or 81 short OF majority
1t is too early for any group OF Republicans
even a million petitioners to Mr.. Mann, to pick
the party's candidate for President but it is safe
to predict that man, whatever he claims to
represent. will be able to veto the choice OF the
majority of those who want to return to Rcpub
can policies. We do not recognize the veto
power in political parties, and Mr.. Baker is fool
ish to advertise himself trying to exert such
power He will not even be consulted by the con-
vention as he will not be a candidate for delegate
to the convention. because he does not pretend
TO be a Republican. Jim Mann will lose no sleep
because OF Mr.. Bakers veto.
GERMANY Evades the Issue