New-York tribune., 1918-11-26
Former Senator Dick Heads
Republican Organization
Founded in Akron, Ohio
Will Spread Movement
Headquarters To Be Estab-
lished in Washington
at Once
Special to The Tribune


AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 25.-General
John j. Pershing, leader of the Ameri
can forces in Europe. was definitely
put into the 1920 Presidential race to-
night when the Pershing Republican
l., ague, composed Of fifteen leading
Akron Republicans, was formally or
ganized.
Former United States Senator
Charles Dick, who helped get delegates
in 1896 for Mckinley, was elected
president of the league.
The plan of the league is to get
similar organizations started in each
state in the Union, with branches in
the various Congres essional districts,
pledged to procuring Pershing dele
gates for the 1920 Republican national
convention.
Headquarters will be established at
once at Washington, in addition to
those here, and probably a little later
at New York.
News of the setting in motion of
and scores of kilograms of inquiry and
Offering assistance were coming in to-
night.
"Pershing will sweep the convention
like he did the German lines" wired
one enthusiastic Missourian.
Members Of the Republican County
Committee who attended to-night's
meeting pledged themselves to have
10000 members of the league in Sum-
nit Count within a week.
The movement was started, 1T was
explained, without the knowledge Of
General Pershing, but the promoters
declared they were confident that if
the American people demanded that
Pershing's name go upon the ballot he
would not avoid the responsibility.
Tribune Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The Per-
shing boom for President, reported to
have been launched in Ohio, aroused
little interest among leading Repub-
licans here tonight at is premature
to talk of candidates for 1920 now,"
said one Republican Senator. Others
were non-committal.
This cannot be properly interpreted
as opposition to General Pershing's
candidacy Rather does it originate
from a present sense of greater prob
lens pressing upon the country than
picking a candidate for the Presidency
in 1920
"The immediate job for the Repub-
lican party" said the Republican Sen
;,or mentioned above, "is to organize
the Senate and House and make such
wise choice of Congressional leader
ship as will enable the Republican
party to successfully grapple with the
great reconstruction tasks which must
inevitably fall to it."
AS to General Pershing's political
affliation. spokesmen for both parties
have zealously laid claim to ihm. 1t
was pointed out that he has spent most
of his life in the army and has dabbled
but little in politics. 1t also was re-
called, however, that Pershing's mill
tary advancement was accelera ed
through the recognition given him dpr-
ing President Roosevelt's administra-
ton. indicating to some that his sym
pathies were. from that point forward
at least, with the Republican party.
That Pershing's candidacy would
meet popular response was not ques-
toned by political wiseacres. 1t was
asserted, however, that by resting on
his laurels as commander in chief of
the American forces in the great war
his fame would be secure, while if he
entered politics, and even reached the
Presidency, he might lose some of the
esteem in which he is now held.