The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-02-16
Mr.. Wilson Strong In
Affections of the People.

49, ~~NA0AAS ~ liz @6H4Ss
Mr.. Wilson's statement In regard to
his position as a presidential POSSIBLE
ity goes far toward clarifying the po-
htical situation, which had become
more or less obscure, until his letter
20 the secretary Of state of Ohio
placed him fairly before the people of
this country as candidate to sue
ceed himself as chief executive of
the United States, provided the vo-
ters of this country want him for
their president.
In stating that he is unwilling to
contest for the nomination, and does
not contest, he says in effect that he
does not want to be president of the
United States unless the people of the
United States want him to be their
leader, and such position is in ac-
eordance with his statement made
three years ago that he would let the
voters determine who was to be the
party nominee, and in harmony with
the attitude which Mr.. Wilson has
shown towards his party at all times.
Mr.. Wilson is party man. But
he is more than this. He never for
gets that he is the servant of all the
people of this country.
Ordinarily the determination as to
who viii be the party nominee has
rested with some political conbina-
ton, the voters having little choice
as to their leader.
Refusing to enter into contest for
the nomination, leaving his case to be
decided by the people, is of course
paramount to formal announcement
of having entered the race. But Pres
ident Wilson, in consenting to the use
of his name as a candidate for the
presidency, in order that the political
situation might be cleared up in those
states where no presidential candidate
may be named without his consent,
showed himself willing to leave his
case entirely in the hands of the peo-
ple-he is willing to be their leader
II they want him to be. Otherwise he
does not seek the office.
During his incumbency, President
Wilson has held to a steady and un-
wavering course of following the
wishes of the people whom he repre-
SCENTS, in so far as he may conscien-
tiously do go. Mr.. Wilson is already
strongly fortified in the popularity
which is his. But The Journal does
not believe, and has never believed, |
that President Wilson seeks popu-
Iarity. What he seeks and has al |
ways sought is to serve and to rep
resent all the people of this country,
to the best Of his ability.
No ADLER man has ever filled the po- |
stt1on Of chief executive Of the United
States government. At time when /
this country has faced the most in +
sricate problems, the most appalling
situations, the most harrassing de-
tails Of governmental procedure; when
It has been stirred by internal strife
and disloyalty, and shaken by world
tunnult, he has held steadily to a
course which he has laid down for
himself when he first assumed his
duties as president of the United
States. That he has looked upon the
functions Of this high office as duties
and not privileges, that he has not
forgotten that he is servant as well |
as leader, is reason enough for the
place that he holds in the affections of
the people of this country.
That he has been constantly ira
duced and villified, misquoted and
misrepresented, and that his strong |
personality has awakened bitter en-
nifty, even in his own party, is but an
other evidence that he refuses to play
for popularity.
In the face Of a storm of protest |
he has held steadily to whatever
course has seemed best to him, not
swayed by the bowling of the mob
nor the soft voice of the interests, and
has invariably done that which SEEM
ed to him to come nearest TO best
serving the people of this country.
There is little doubt but that Pres
ident Wilson will be the next Demo-
cratic nominee, in spite of party trail
tors