Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-14

Senator john w. Weeks for President.
We quote the following editorial
comment from the Fall River Eve
ming Herald:
The United States soon will be in
the thick OF another national political
campaign Throughout the country
the people are taking stock of possible
candidates for the Presidency. Among
others, John w. Weeks of Massachu-
sets has been prominently mentioned
as the man to head the Republican
ticket. New England has not had a
representative in the White House
since 1857, when the term Of Franklin
Pierce, who was a resident of New
Hampshire when he took office, ex-
pired. Today Massachusetts has in
the person of John w. Weeks a man
pre-eminently qualified to serve hi>
country as its chief executive; a man
upon whom all New England could
and should unite as candidate in
every way worthy Of the highest Office
within the gift Of the american peo-
pie. This nation Is travelling a peri
precipitate it into the abyss of war;
1t is a time when only men Of proved
character and ability should be con-
sidered for the office Of President.
Politics must be subordinated to the
public good. II it is the opinion Of
the majority of the people that Wood
row Wilson should continue to direct
the affairs of state, then he should be
retained in Office regardless of his
political affiliations. If, however, the
majority believe that there should be
a change, then the man who takes up
the work where President Wilson
leaves it should be one of broad ex-
perience and knowledge of national
affairs; one, who has earned the con-
fidence of the American people. John
w. Weeks is such a man. He knows
his country as few men know it. He
has been put to the test as a member
of Congress and as United States
Senator and has proved his worth on
every occasion. His efforts have been
largely responsible for much of the
real constructive national legislation
of recent years. Mr. Weeks, in his
public life. has been what might prop
erly be termed a progressive con-
sentative. He has stood always for
common sense in public affairs as h.
has in private business. He has been
successful in the one as he has been
in the other; he has made good" and
that, after all, is the supreme test. Mr..
Weeks is logical, sincere. courageous
and dependable, a big man in every
respect qualified to guide the destinies
Of a great nation. All Of the politi-
clans admit his superior qualifications
as a candidate for President, but some
of them-the small Drained, picayune
type who place politics above country
declare that, being a resident of
Massachusetts, he should not be
nominated because of what they pro-
TESS to consider the geographical
handicap. Hon. Charles G. Washburn
effectively disposes of this argument,
when he says: I'VE are to select =
man for the presidency and not
geographical expression New Eng.
land has in John Wingate Weeks a
native son of presidential calibre. New
England, having the man and deserv-
ing the honor, should unite to press
his candidacy and nominate him for
President in 1915. AS former Con-
gresham Washburn says: THE Re-
publican party could not do better
than to nominate Senator Weeks, a
leader of proved capacity, alret,dy
widely recognized: honest in thought,
persuasive and convincing in argu-l
ment calm in his Judgment; man
who has been tried in many positions
of public trust and not yet found
wanting; a man who has that rarest
of gifts, the genius of common sense"
Kennebec Journal readers are al
ready familiar with our respect and
admiration for the Massachusetts,
statesman. We have noted with sat
isfaction. with real pleasure. the
widespread. spontaneous, favorable
mention of Senator Weeks for the
highest honor in the gift of the
American people. That he is a man
Of large caliber. of honest convictions
and the courage of them; that he is
magnifcently fitted by intelligence
and experience. for the high Office, no
one denies. The orposition to his
candidacy il political or in the inter-
est Of the favorite ron of some other
section. None disputes his ability,
character or mental and physical At
ness.
To our mind, Senator Weeks is the
logical Republican candidate Of New
England. AS such we do not hesitate
to place ourselves for him, or to ex-
press the hope that the Republican
party will honor itself by nominating
him, and that the American people
will do themselves credit by electins
him.
Senator Weeks is an authority on
naval matters; he is a graduate Of the
Naval Academy, and served in the
naval service for six years after his
graduation, and again during the war
with Spain. Because of his faniliaFi-
ty with naval affairs. whatever Mr..
Weeks said when member OF the Ma.
tional House had great influence.
Former Congressman Washburn ssid
Of him: 6