Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-24
THE NEXT PRESIDENT
Great Uncertainty Exists ms to Candi-
doter-WiII They He Soldiers


from outside the reaches of public life
year from June the presidential candi-
dates Of both parties will be named and
campaigning. Today there is almost
unprecedented uncertainty regarding
these selections says Leslie's. Newspaper
talk centers around soldier candidates
whose achievements and reputation might
help politics rehabilitate its standing.
Will the next President be a soldier
as was the case with all but three
Chief Magistrates in the fifty years af-
ter the Civil War?
VIII he be a business man to satisfy
the taxpayers demand for economy and
the protection of prosperity in new UNI
certain years?
Will the voters get lawyer or some
political figure who has acquired prom
inence connected with the civil problems
of the war?
Will the issue be the League of Ma
tons, or taxes or some kind of adulte
rated Bolshevism?
The answers are hard to get. There
was never a time of greater Congress
political agitation than the last session
But 1t ran in a dozen directions and
turned up no commanding figures. Is
sues Of enough Importance for six cam
paigns popped up and were disposed OF
too quickly to shed great light on the
next Presidency.
With the new Congress In their hands
the Republicans naturally expect tc
have a big political advantage in 1920
II they are fronted with a close test and
uncertain prospects next spring. They may
nominate Pershing. If they feel free tc
consult preference instead of necessity
they will hardly name a man whose
ways and personality are not better ex-
plored than Pershings.
Possibilities and standings at this time
rate as follows:
1. Charles e. Hughes, nominee of 1916
investigator of the aircraft scandal, ac-
tive on war questions, who would wir
this time hands down. his followers be
lieve.
2. General Pershing. commanderin-
chief of the victorious armies in France
aloof from all partisanshp and faction
alism, hero worshipped throughout Anne
lea.
3. General Wood, evangel of prepared.
ness, heir to something of Roosevelt's
popularity. wounded in France.
A. Governor Walter E. Edge Of New
Jersey. whose record as a business gov.
ernor commended him to the people OF
his State and led to his election to the
Senate at Washington to represent his
great industrial commonwealth in this
period Of after-war reconstruction prob
lens.
s. Senator Hiram johnson Of California
radical and progressive, so strong in the
West that Hughes could not win with
out his support, a real heavyweight witt
admirers among extremist groups.
6. Senator Borah of Idaho, strons
against the League of Nations. a picture
esque figure from the West opponent o
suffrage.
7. Senator Knox of Pennsylvania, con
structive exponent of League Of Nations
brilliant as Secretary Of State, stront
conservative following.
/ 8. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts. bit
ter critic of Wilson on many issues, in
Guiding League Of Nations.
| 9. Governor Lowden of Illinois, whit
stands high with the business men, far
mers and workers Of the State.
| The democratic situation is even NOR,
obscure. National Committeeman sa.
| Mr.. Wilson wants to write a book ant
will not run. He certainly can nam
his successor If he wants to. Nobody cal
safely underrate his strength as a candi
date, should his party override his OBJ
| jections against trying it again. Alread
| there is talk of endorsing Clark as part
leader Of the House because of distan
murmur of the Presidential bee.
| McAdoo who made the Liberty LOAF
go, launched the Federal Reserve an
Farm Loan systems, and consolidate
the railroads for war use, has been re
| garded as strong potentially for tn
last four or five years. His connection
with the movies upon resigning tn
Treasury Secretaryship is accepted b.
some Of his friends as conclusive proc
that he is through with politics.
| Baker Of the War Department Nigh
be thought of by the President in con
| sidering some one to take the titula
leadership Of his party. He would b
| a bitter dose for the Democratic politi
cians and could not unite all party ell
ements. His supposed mental resem
blance to Wilson would not be enoug
to set him up in a going political bushes:
Josephus Daniels is said to have him
self under consideration in connectio
with the Presidency. His friends sub
nit that a man who administered tn
Navy Department so efficiently. VIII
|
advanced on suffrage and the liquor issu
ought to have a chance.
The suggestion is even heard that tn
Democrats choose Pershing. Pershin
is great admirer of Wilson He ha
kept out of Politics. as Wood has dom
why" ask some Democrats, "shouldn
we profit instead of the Republican
from Pershing's work in France?
|
there"
Little is heard of Underwood. so Pre-
minent a candidate in 1912. An &C
mrable, quiet figure in the Senate h
has devoted himself to inconspicuous b,
arduous labors. apparently content
miss the headlines.
The following Of Mr.. Bryan still thro
when the Presidency is mentioned. Fl
was first in the field for prohibition. H
supported the currency measure No
} he is claiming that his peace treati'
form the real basis of the Wilson Leagr
of Nations. To the extent Of this origi
, he praises the League plan, with son
intimations that he could have done OF
better He has no unreserved praise fl
: Mr.. Wilson. Possibly he harbors resen
ment at the way the Wilson manager
. held him out of the limelight In the la
Congressional campaign. Relying upc
his strength in the West and South
Is undoubtedly hoping for the dem
a craticc nomination. just as he sought
. !, in 1912. He may try to manipulate
field Of fellow candidates just as he d
. then.
The Democrats are keeping Nigh
. quiet. waiting for a trustworthy inkliI
| ~ vuhat Mr. Wilson iptaDda n do