The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-12-11
AN UNINSPIRING ARRAY

UtnlldI pOSSlDul1eS Nnlcu >IdlluS DtLOIC the c. o. P. leaders today is so pitifully ap- parent that it is not to be wondered at that the republicans view the approach of the next Presidential elections with trembling. There was a time in the history of the United States that party label attached to a candidate insured him of all or practical ly all of the votes polIed by that party. Times. however, have changed and voters demand more than that a man be a re publican or a democrat and want to know his qualifications and for what he stands in progressive American life. It is true that some voters vote for the label-they are too old to change their habits-but the voting strength of that section of Ameri- cans which demands to be shown merit on the part of the office seeker has increased to such strength that neither party can afford to ignore it.
 It is for this reason that Wood, Low den, Harding of Ohio, Watson of Indiana, Johnson of California, PoindeXter who has worn about all existing political labels in cluding the populist one and has now re turned to the conservation ranks of the re publican party, fail to impress the aver age American as being men for the job as President. They are not the best that the republican party can produce. Coolidge of Massachusetts has more to recommend him than any of those mentioned but he is not strong with the Old Guard of republicans, Elihu Root is of a cahber not approached by any of those mentioned but his affiia- tion with the liquor interests as attorney kills him as a Presidential possibility
 General Woods candidacy has pos sibly progressed farther than any of the others in the field. If the republicans feel that they can win with negative candi- date he may get the nomination. He is a stay-at-home army leader, however, and has no war record to appeal to the voters. While he has no failure charged against him neither has success perched on his army pennant with which he might attract a following. That he might pose as a mar tyr to political enmity thru the war de partment's refusal to send him to Europe and get some votes for the susceptible is admitted but he could not expect to attract and win the votes of the class which de- mands to be shown with such an argument. That class wants to know what he has done and not what he could have done if he had been in General Pershing's place and the latter did such a thoro job that few people have any regret that General Wood was not selected to head the American forces in France.
 That which applies to General Wood s army career is equally applicable to the civilian life of the other possible candidates now in the field If Governor Lowden s name is known turnout the country it re fleets credit on his press agent rather than indicates pre-eminent accomplishments in the political field. Senator Watson is known as the defender of the packers ter has so many labels attached to him that the sight of them is likely to frighten away all the voters.
 Senator Johnson got his start in po- itical life by cleaning the Southern Pacific out of California politics. His start car ried him far as he has accomplished little since that time that is nationally known. Of course adroit press agenting could rem edy that but there are other considerations. His case Is under fire in California which state he is supposed to be representing in the United States senate. California de mands the ratification of the peace treaty