The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-12-19
MEN In LIMELICHT
FOR PRESIDENCY
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.--What has
become of that seventh son a seventh
son who can tell you year ahead
who is going to be the next president
He is gone. along with the political
.1gic upon which he based his judg-
ilents. 1t used to be argued that be-
cause a man lived in Ohio, had an
irish grandmother. fought in the Civ.
il war. and had never stated definite
opinion anything. he was unbeatable.
And often he was.
The presidential virtues for long
time were chiefly negative or course.
very early in our history we had some
remarkable presidents In that day
we had an intellectual aristocracy 1t
led us to success in the revolutionary
war, and furnished our political lead
ers for generation or SO afterward.
Of this crew were Washington.
Adams and Jefferson.
But with the growth of the demo-
cratic idea came the demigogue, and
the mediocrity in the presidential
chair. The rugged figure Of Jackson
stands out-a great demagogue but
- NNAAOouooS AOAC luc lGS6-dQmlr-
able but terrible in his ignorance. Then
came the Civil war, strangely produc-
ing In its own genius in Lincoln. a
being unaccountable and unique.
After the Civil war, our strange ma
tional sport of presidential politics
reached its highest development.
Presidential candidates were nothing
but pawns used by the great parties
in the game which they played for the
stakes of office and power. Men were
chosen because they were safe" Me-
diocrity was a prime qualification. A
man with marked personality, mark
ed achievement, or marked in any 9TH
el' way were not wanted. That a bril-
liant individuality like that of Cleve-
land reached the presidency in spite
OF this system was an accident which
politicians deplored.
1t is only in the past generation
that the presidency has been rescued
from medriocrity. President Roose-
welt taught the people to regard the
president as their personal represen-
tatlve, and not merely as the mouth
piece OF political party, and of the
interests which dominate 1t. Mr.. Will
son has carried this idea of the pres
|ldent as the official interpreter of the
public will still further. Both of them
have shown that there is still room in
|the presidency for a real personality.
Another thing which has perished
recently is political oratory of the old
spread eagle and sentimental school.
1t Is still practiced in the south to
|some extent. and in back counties
generally; but it is no longer, as it
lonce was, presidential sine qua non.
NO man is going to win the ,presiden-
icy this time on the strength of his
Iperorations. Who will get the nomi-
nations is a mystery, but certainly
neither of them will be captured by a
I'cross of gold and crown of thorns"
Speech.
Thus, while it is hard to pick the
individual who will be the next pres
Rdent 1t is not hard to pick the type. /
frhe man will not be professional
politician, a medicrocity foisted on
the public by his fellow professionals.
will not make so much difference
where he lives. A record of public
phice will not help him much, but a
record OF practical achievement will
Peip him great deal. And he will |
Pnt to be sentimentalist, a tear
{pueezer. one who weeps and bellows
fnd waves the flag. The type of the
peXt president is well represented in
Ehe leading candidates, and men men
ioned in connection with the candi- I
Eacy. Two of those men are especial /
N significant, Hoover and McAdoo. +
perhaps neither of them will ever
fun, but the mere fact that these two
pave been widely mentioned for the !
presidency. and have been more or
less accepted by the people as men
type who might make good presi- !
fents. is tremendously significant 1t |
Claimed of McAdoo that he has
fllliant record as political execu- i
I'VE but Hoover has been in no way
associated with politics.
The fact that Hoover of unknown
ollles had even been mentioned for