Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-01-24
WANT GENERAL WOOD
TO BE PRESIDENT
Backers of Roosevelt Said to be
Behind Army Man
E. A. KNAPP TELLS WHAT He THINKS
OF CANDIDACY

hackers Of the late Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt already lining up behind
Major General Leonard Wood for the
Presidential nomination in the Repub-
lican party? There are some indica-
ton, it is said, that they are. Whether
the Wood boom will be allowed to de-
velop early is a question which may
not have been answered definitely yet
by General Woods friends, but the
Wood Presidential boom is said to be
on it's way without a doubt.
Edward A. Knapp, a former Rough
Rider, Roosevelt friend, Roosevelt
rooter, Roosevelt political admirer and
worker, was asked last night in this
city what he thought of the Wood
boom. Evidently Mr.. Knapp was not
much surprised at the question, since
he had a ready answer for Interpreters
question, and appeared entirely famil-
lar with the facts concerning the part
General Wood has played in National
affairs In recent years.
"Colonel Roosevelt's death was a
National tragedy" Knapp said. "Dur-
ing the past two years the gravest the
country has faced in the last fifty
years, he has worked constantly by bis
pen and voice, and without a break,
for victory, and this in spite of the
Democratic party and an administra-
ton which committed itself to the poll
cy of too proud to fight and later call
ed for a peace without victory He it
was who showed Americans how to be
Americans and how TO revere the flag.
In the reconstruction days that are to
come his wisdom and vision will be
sadly missed by the millions of Ameri-
cans that have come to rely on the
superman of America Tor their guide.
''Just as he sounded the keynote Of
Americanism for the Nation, so did he
revive the Republican party and give
1t real issues that have been sorely lack
ing for the past eight years. Colonel
Roosevelt, had he lived, would I'M
doubleday have been the Republican
candidate in 1920 and the next Presi-
dent of the United States. There is no
question in my mind but that he would
have swept the country and received
the largest vote ever given a candidate.
He died In the height of his populan-
ty, and the esteem of the citizens of the
country, Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis. Today he stands side by side
with Washington and Lincoln.
"You ask me what / think Of the
candida cy of GenerslWood for the Re-
publican party nomination in 1920. 1
have a very decided opinion that Gen
eral Wood is the most available man
in the party and the one who appeals
not only to Republicans and Indepen-
dents, but to a large number Of Demo
Gratis. General Wood is well known
throughout the country. [ doubt If
there Is any ma in the country, who
is better known and has fewer enemies.
Like Roosevelt, he begged the country
two years before we went into the war
to prepare. You will remember the
eloquent plea he made right here in
Elizabeth. He originated and formed
the P%lattsburg training camp for Off
GERS which was used as a model for
training all reserve officers when war
was declared. Had his foresight not
given this machinery to the Govern
ment our whole military system would
have been broken down and there
would have been no officers to COM
mand u National army, which, with
out at all discrediting the regular army,
1 think was the largest factor in win
ming the wal as far as the United States
was concerned.
General Wood is conceded to be a
great ad ministrator and executive. He
SO proved himself in making Cuba an
island Of health, beauty and riches, a
contented, well governed nation, the
envy of its neighbors, and this from a
place of pestilence and poverty. He
performed a similar service for the
Philippines. His Americanism is just
as sincere and lofty as was Washing
toms, Lincoln's and Roosevelt's. So
much for General Wood, the man.
"Now for General Wood, the vote
getter. He was a loyal friend Of Colonel
Roosevelt, and or this account and his
own l think would get 100 per cent. of
the Colonel's followers, for they know
he stands for the great ideals that the
Colonel stood for. He would also get
the vote of the few Republicans who
differed with Colonel Roosevelt. This
was shown by the strong sentiment
that was seen at the Republican Ma
tional Convention In Chicago in 1915,
where he received ten votes when he
xxvaa NOT n candidate He WOnId rQ.