Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-30
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 80, 1918
THE PERSHING BOOM.


The movement for the nomination
of General Pershing for the presi-
dency in 1890, comes at an opportune
time II Pershing is the right man
for the place. the ycar-and-a-half be-
fore the states begin to hold prima-
ries for the election of delegates to
the national convention will but add
to his strength. If he is not the right
man the boom will wear itself out
soon after the soldiers in large num-
bers begin TO return from Europe.
Whether the pershing movement is
taken seriously or not is going to de-
pend largely on what the men who
served under him in France may say
about it, If they demand his nomi-
nation, there is little doubt that he
will be the next republican nominee
If they display no enthusiasm regard
ing his candidacy, tho civilian voters
win cease to press his candidacy.
Then, there is the matter of Gen.
u III 4 q SiliIfB ltillIHtlIs Ilt may Iibl
want to mix in partisan politics. General
Grant was twice elected president
and allowed his name to go before
the convention for a third term.
General Sherman, on the other hand
always refused to become a candidate
for office Tho presidency could have
been his for the asking.
Tho American people have never
shown great enthusiasm for war he
roes, except IN a few instances. Wash
ington was the only revolutionary
hero to he chosen president. There
We're other conspicuous generals, but
they had to yield to statesmen like
Adams, jefferson, Madison and Mon
roe.
As n consequence Of the war of
1912 Andrew Jackson was elected to
the presidency, but he was followed
by the civilian, Martin Van Buren,,
who defeated General William Henry
Harrison. But Harrison beat Van
Buren, in the next election, partly be-
cause of the fame gained in his VIC
tories over tho Indians and partly be-
cause of Van Buren's personal UNI
popularity and political blunders,
The Mexican war gave one president
to the United States, Taylor But the
real couqueror Of Santa Ana General
Scott was defeated by New Hamp-
shire lawyer, Franklin Pierce
During the civil war Mcclellan ran
against Lincoln. but made a poor
showing Then came General Grant,
the real war-hero president. Moth
ing except Grants civil war record
would have made him thought of as
timber for the presidency, or for any
other high office.
But when General Rutherford B.
Hayes ran against Lawyer Tilden, the
vote was almost a tie, and there is
serious doubt today in the minds of
many well-informed republicans re-
garding the Justice of Tilden's defeat.
Both Garfield and Hancock were
generals on the union side, but the
more conspicuous of them by far as
military man, Hancock the Superb,
went down to overwhelming defeat
before Garfield, whose reputation was
almost entirely that of a legislator
1t is doubtful if the fact that Cen
eral Harrison had an enviable repu-
tation as a soldier contributed in any
considerable degree to his victory
over President Cleveland. Certainly
1t did not save him from defeat by
Cleveland four years later.
Bryan, a civilian, was defeated by
Major Mckinley, in 1896; but the
fight had nothing whatever to do with
the limited military experiences of
Mckinley. But before the campaign
OF 1900 came on Bryan had succeed
ed in getting the title of colonel. in
to add to his popularity, however. in
his second contest with Mckinley.
Roosevelt. in his fight for election
over Alton p. ParkerA doubtless BEN
Gifted by his really brilliant record
at San Juan Hill and in other fights
around Santiago However, the great
est benefit to Roosevelt came in the
Philadelphia convention when he was
nominated for vice president.
Then Bryan, the colonel, ran against
Taft, the civilian, and was showed
under completely.
That was the last fight in which a
military title was used in presi-
dental eampaignF except the three
cornered fight between Wilson. Roose-
Welt and Taft in 1912.
We cannot pass from the discus
stony however. without pointing toI