Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-24
MONDAY. JUNE -. 1918
First Win the War.


presiding officer. Ex-Governor Samuel NJ.
Ralston. declared that the precedent
against a third term for President OF the
United States should now be broken,
and that the cxirencies of the times
call for the denomination and reelection,
in 1920. Of Woodrow Wilson The con
vention. however. did not either indorsc
or rcpudiatc tho declaration OF the chair
man. Instead. il adopted a potent state
ment. said "a have come from President
Wilson ia this effect That the i'm
medlatc purpose Of the Democratic
party the p,irpose which taxes pr
ccdantc over cyery other, iS - WIN
TIL WAR
md This should hc the war crl Of
,h. pemocratic party and Of every other
poIi. .da, part, IN The country throughout
III, Wars campaign and throughout the
campa ign Of 1920. should the war, most
unfortunately. continue untl that time
NC Re in this var for a purpose 70
preserve 10 the people Of the world the
night to hvc under truly Democratic
government. .nd NC must continue IN
the war until that end is assured
i il now recognized that the cNigencics
If the situation that prevailed in this
country two wears ago demanded the re-
election Of President Wilson. The sue
cess Of his opponent would have placed
the country in a very embarrassing situa-
tion. especially during the months be
tween the election Of . President in
November. and his induction into Office
on the fourth OF March following But
tha, emergency. most fortunately. was
avoided by he verdict of the people in
favor ol continuing President Wilson
m o'iitc for our years more
That third term for President Wilson
should bc suggested at this time is not
unnatural Il arises from thc conditions
hat now prevail. and the probability
that the war IN Europe and our con
nection herewith, and tho questions that
uill n ave to be solved after a cessation
Of hostilities. might make a change Of
national administration most undesirable,
possibly source Of trouble and I'M
certainty.
But il may be set down as assured, as
il has. been made plain from the forna-
tion OF our government, that our national
existence does not and never Will depend
upon any one man Washington could
have had 3 third term IN the office of
President. but he firmly repudiatcd the
proposition. Since that day no other
President has had such an honor Even
IN I'll he era OF good feeling that at
tended the second election of President
Monroe, in 1920, which resulted in his
success with only the mere form Of OPP
position, one Presidential Elector refused
to vote for him on the ground that the
honor of unanimous reelection, conferred
upon President Washington, should not
De bestowed upon any of his successors
Also. this is not the time TO give
serious attention to the matter of candI-
dates for the Presidency in 1920. two
years hence While there may be numer-
Gus aspirants 10 the honor OF party
nominations al this time the conditions
NAV 50 change that not Il man anong
them Will be seriously thought Of when
the time for action comes Even Mr.
Roosevelt, who Is doing hir best to keep
himself to the fore, no doubt with the
Republican nomination for President IN
1920 in view. may be totally di-regarded
when / hc time comes for the Republican
party TO make It's selection And BY that
time the situation may be such that The
Democratic party will not feel called upon
10 give even ordinary consideration 10
the suggestion of President Wilson for a
third term
The great problem that confront- the
country at this time is to WIN TUE
WAR We entered upon this enterprise
only after great provocation, and with
serious consideration. To the successful
prosecution of our purpose we are now
bending all the resources Of the nation
in men and money. Our people are
united in the cause, believing that otr
cause is just Without regard to the
outcome Of political campaigns this
year Or two years hence, We have 70 give
our sole attention to the prosecution Of
The war We must build up an army that
can successfully cope with the German
enemy. We must transport that army
across the ocean to the battIcfields Of
Europe. We must send with il the
means Of sustenance and the necessary
munitions Of war. And we must resolute-
ly keep our minds intent upon this pur-
pose, and bend all orr energies to its
accomplishment, regardless Of who may
be the next President Of the United
state
1t may be that President Wilson will