The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-07-10
OUR WAR PRESIDENTS
rs PERSHING THE NEXT?

~ PEkSHlNG The NEXT!
The scrbes already beginning to speculate on the
presidential possibilities for 1920. Some of the prognos
LEGATIONS plausible others perposterous but the
following article from the pen of of the Hearst writ
presents the of possible candidate in
that makes striking appeal to the imagination:
Every war has made president of the United States.
Maj Gen. John j. Pershng, commander of the eXped-
hOnary army in France is natural born soldier though
political favorite
Anyone who imagnes that he is not ambitious capa-
Die of Selling every opportunity and of making OPP
pOrtuntes, does not know him.
The revolutionary made the first president
Washington
The next war, 1872 made Andrew Jackson president
The next with Mexico in 1916 made Zachery Tay-
lor president
The next the Civil war; and it made Ulysses Grant
president
Next the with Spain, in 1898, and little as
that war was, it made Theodore Roosevelt president.
When Roosevelt became president his enemies charged
that his great personal friendship for General Leonard
Wood responsible for Woods elevation several
hundred senior officers And when Pershng jumped
s62 officers from capaincy to generaship Roose
vets enemies made pointed references to the act that
Pershing had married the daughter of United Stats Sn
ator Warm of Wyoming, chairman of the committee
military affairs.
But time has amply indicated Roosevelts judgment
to the merits of both officers and incidentally proved
the selectve promotion is right.
Pershing the logical selection to lead the first
pedtonay forces to Europe; he the logical man to
quiet the clamOr for Roosevelt himself Pershings
have served.
He first furnished mighty good background for
himself among the exalted by his deeds in the Philippines
Now there great many other officers in our
army whose records brilliant Pershings There
other men who probably just capable. 1t is
not likely that military men will agree that Pershing is
by any greatest soldier but the fact remains
that he stands foremost in the public eye.
Had Frederick Funston lived it is conceivable that he
would have been sent to France He was regarded as
the ideal soldier Maybe he greater If as great,
Initarywse, Pershng j. Franklin Bell, Leonard
Wood, of other generals but he better
known to the people. 3. .'
And it will probably not be denied at Washington that
Pershngs reputation had something to do with his seec
ton; it will probably not be claimed that he chosen
after close analysis of the records of all fighting
men had been made and his found to assay best.
He chosen because the people have confidence in
him, which is pretty good basis which to choose men,
In his it probably will be found that the confidence
fully justified.
And now destiny puts him in command of the first
forces in the greatest in which America any other
country has engagedt makes him custodian of the
very heart of his native land this dashng debonnar pro-
duct of old Missouri.
Then where? Then what? Who knows?
Pershng is 81 years of age is agile any man
not as most men, but any man-at 80. He is sadie
hardened campaign burned, field dried fellow with
great capacity for endurance.
Educated polished, linquist to certain extent,
lover of good society," he is the best ideal of the American
officer because first before those things he is
fighting man. He used to be beautiful dancer and he
is still beautiful fighter.
He comes of good American stock. He is real Ameri
~an in every way. You cannot pay much higher
compliment
Ii when the smoke of battle dies away and John Perish
ing returns to his people safe and sound there are