The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-03-02
VOLUNTEER PILOTS
FOR BIG SHIP SHY
Democrats Leay Of Entering Lists Against
Wilson and Shadow Of Big Moose
in Background Keeps Repub-
licans Guessing
By United Press.


WASHINGTON, D. G., March O.
Washington is wondering what has be.
come Of her wandering boys. The
boys" usually show up in January pre-
ccding presidential election, loaded
with campaign buttons. speeches and
imperishable literature favoring some
candidate who is not only willing but
anxious to save his country from the
wolves of the opposition.
Four years ago there was notable
reunion of 'the boys" Taft and Roose-
velt overshadowed most other candi
dates on the Republican side, but in
tie Democratic field the race was open
to new entries right up to convention
time and the entries came thick and
fast to the last minute. Every night
or SC some new candidate took fly.
ing dive into the heap of self-sacri.
flcing heroes willing to give up their
important private affairs to serve the
pubic.
Wilson, Clark, Harmon, Underwood.
Gaynor, host in fact, put themselves
in the hands of their friends. Few
were the hotels that could not beast,
or could hut admit, they we're head
quarters for some one or eighteen Of
the candidates.
Washington was headquarters for ex
and prospective office holders. public
lily men and press agents. At any time
after o'clock in the afternoon an out
sider who braved the storm of argu
ment that enveloped the cob-webby
interior of the historic bar where
solons and other gather could per-
suade himself that the presidential
chair would have to be community
affair." and the White House turned
into an apartment building 10 accom-
nlodate the "can losers" who were
going to be elected.
But this year "the boys" have nos
shown up.
Those of the Democrats who would
be willing to succeed Mr.. Wilson as the
pilot of the ship of state are hanging
bashfully in the background waiting
for encouragement that doesn't. at the
present time, seem likely to arrive.
Until Theodore Roosevelt is down in
black and white and up in arms, until
his hat is in the ring and his big
stick swinging, or until he is definite
ly settled the other way, many of the
Republican martyrs who would be will
ing to run and save the United States
are likewise hanging back.
It looks rather bad for the boys.
It takes some time to launch good
publicity bureau. Unless they get an
early start. the succession of primar.
les makes impossible the important
early claims 20 the several states.
ANY evening in February, 1912. for
instance. a credulous reader would
Rave had to shoot dice with himself
TO find which of ten candidates could
be believed when he proved absolutely
and without fear of successful con
tradiction that he would get the solid
delegation to Baltimore or Chicago.
Few persons in Washington know
Just what is wrong this year. The
boys do not affect any one very much
except the hotel proprietors, the res
taurteurs and the several hundred
newspaper correspondents. Principally
the newspaper correspondents.
1t was a sad day in the old years
when a newspaper correspondent
didn't get enough campaign literature
to paper a room largo enough to house
most of the presidential aspirants. And
this is a sad year; but so far, they
have managed to bear up under the
strain.