Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-25
Wig Not?
II maintain therefore that the exigencies
of the times call for the denomination and
reelection in 1920 of Woodrow Wilson"
81 maintail

Of the times call for the denomination and
reelection in 1920 of Woodrow Wilson"
The speaker former Governor Ralston of
Indiana. addressing in the capacity of permanent
chairman the recent Democratic convention of that
State. II was in urging the supreme Importance
Of winning the war and of dealing wisely with the
crucial problems which certain to crowd its
aftermath that Governor Ralstoni made his inter
esting declaration. And it is in just this connection
that the American people will consider the Presi-
dency in 1920. What the next two years will
bring forth, no say; but far as human
provision goes may expect either to be still at
war or involved the scarcely less vital abors of
readjustment and reconstruction In either situa-
ton there will be imperative need of experienced
and trustworthy Ieadership-the most experienced
and most trustworthy the nation can command.
This being the prospect. thoughtful Americans
necessarily concerned with the idea that found
significant expression in the Democratic conven-
ton of Indiana. a State whose political Importance
is proverbiaL President Wilson himself, may
be sure. looks with distaste upon talk of this,
nature. There be doubt of what he will
do IL he feels free to follow his wish for
the tremendous and truly awful burdens he has
borne and has yet to bear. But IL his country
needs and demands his leadership for still another
term, he could not in conscience patriotism
fuse. Such a demand would never arise except
from unexampIed needs. The precedent against
third term for President of the United States is
rooted deep in American sentiment, deep that
nothing less than the gravest emergency would be
considered as justifying departure But if the
winning of the the working out of just
= and durable peace terms demands that President
Wilson be elected for third term, the people
would be bound to call him and he would be bound
to serve:
IL is therefore, a question of the con-
ditions or tendencies that prevail a year or so
hence. Suppose the war is then in progress.
Would it not be as unwise and hazardous to
change national leadership it would be to
change generals in the raging midst of battle?
To whom else could we turn for leadership at all
comparable to that of him who has guided the
ton securely through all phases OF the war, who
knows its every depth and shoaI diplomatic and
military alike, and who therefore has the frmest
grasp and the broadest vision OF its vast issues?
II matters not how gifted or how earnest another
might be, he could not I'LL President wilson's
place without President wilson's experience in the
national problems and the world problems with
which the Chief Executive now has to deal, Furth-
ermore the very nature of the Presidency of the
United States argues against changing its incum-
bent in the midst of conditions, provided he is
capable and trustworthy. In all the democratic
world there is no other office so fraught with re-
sponsibffty The President of the United States
in times of war represents the nations supreme
thority. Under the Constitution, he is its Com
mander in Chief. England can change Prime Min
listers and France change Premiers without
necessarily Disturbing the broader policies of the
prosecution of the war. But for the United States
to change Presidents in such a crisis this would
involve the entire program and would be
breaking away from the spirit of our traditions
and of our fundamental law.
All these reasons would hold just strongly
IL the year 1920 found US passing from war to
peace. : The problems of that transition will be
hardly less grave and in some respects even more
difficult than those of the itself. Whether
we wish 1t or not. the interests of America hence
forth are inseparably bound up with those of the
entire world. We have rights to defend and prii
ciples to maintain in Europe well as in home
hemisphere. We must make ourselves a part of
the worlds common conscience and bear re-
sponsibity in framing and unfolding its common
law, or pay the penalty of moral isolation. Be
cause of this we shall he vitality concerned in the
diplomatic conferences that will follow the cessa-
ton of hostiities We shall be concerned not self
fshly but for that very reason the more important
Iy, in Russia's enormous problems and in vouch-
safng freedom to the oppressed peoples now under
Prussian domination. Most of all shall we be con-