Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-30
PRESIDENT IN
NO MOODFOR
THIRD TERM
Lawrence Considers Her.
bert Hoover Favorite
for Race Next Year.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)


les of three articles giving an anal
ysis of conditions as observed on
President Wilson's transcontinen-
tai tour
Washington, Sept 30.-Presiden-
tial primaries are six months away
they have the first vote in Ore
gon-and there is today neither a
crystallization of strength behind
any particular candidate in either
party nor any certainty that the
two old parties-the Democrat and
Republican-will draw their sup
port from the same elements which
nave contributed to their alterna-
tive successes N the past
President Wilson disclaimed any
political ambition on his tour and
denounced any man who would
look at the peace treaty and
League of Nations with an eye to
the elections of 1920. That made
it possible for Republicans every
where who favored the league to
gather around the president with
out giving the local Democrats the
opportunity to garner advantage TO
their party out of the presence or
activity of Mr.. Wilson.
Are Some DOubtars.
But much as Mr.. Wilson tried to
destroy it, the notion persisted in
many places that just as the pres
ident made a non-partisan tour for
preparedness just before he ran
for a second term, so might the
league tour be a feeling-out pro-
cess looking toward a third term.
So everywhere are made inQuir-
les of Democrats as we'll as Re-
publicans as to whether they woul,l
support Wilson if he ran for
third term. and the universal an
swer was that they would not
That is why every time Mr.. Wilson
gave the impression in his speech
es that he had nothing political or
personal in view with respect to
the passage of the treaty and
league, he got a most enthusiastic
response. His best friends do not
want him to run. And his own de-
sire l know positively is absolute
ly in accord with that advice.
But if this is so, why hasn't some
announcement been made? 1t is
true that many political persons
among the Democrats thought it
wiser to withhold any statement on
that point, believing that nothing
would be calculated to make the
leaders watch their
step more than the creation of
set of circumstances compelling
Mr.. Wilson to take the league to
the country as an issue in a presi-
Dental campaign. AS between the
precedent of a third term and the
rejection of a league of nations
many voters would find it hard to
decide. but admittedly Mr.. Wilson |
would get a bigger vote than he
would if he had only the issue OF
personal capacity and not the !
fairs to argue.
Afraid Of Wilson.
Many Republicans believe that J
the strongest obstacle to Republi- /
can success. namely, Woodrow Will !
sonson, would be removed if the /
treaty of peace were acted upon (
and put oub of the way. Indeed, |
many who expect to be supporting !
the Republican national and state |
tickets next time took part in well |
coming Mr.. Wilson and even an
nouncing their support of the !
league because they believed there |
would be time enough after the /
league issue were disposed of to |
set themselves back into partisan
ranks on domestic affairs without |
necessarily absorbing any more
Wilson philosophy.
AS for the Democrats, they take !
pride in the presidents popularity
for the league has certainly,
made him popular in the western
states, the same ones that decided |
IN election in 1916-and if left to
he party politicians, Mr.. Wilson
could have the nomination tomor-
-ow. The sources of Mr.. Wilson's
strength are worth not ing. He
derives power by the reason of the
of the people in his hon
esty and integrity and by reason of
he fact that the opposition on the
eague has been largely destruc-
i've and no substitute plan to as
,ure peace has been offered. AS
between the treaty and League of
Nations as now drafted and none
It all, the people of the west would
rote overwhelmingly to sustain the
president. Persons aren't as i'm
)ortant as issues.
II anything the Republican lead
.rship in congress can be said TO
lave lost much of the confidence
which the rank and file Of the
,arty had in it last May when
congress convened. 1t is an in
eresting thing that while many
,eople in the west do not agree
With Hiram Johnson's views. they
ave much more respect for him
Iecause of the clean-cut character
4 his opposition than they have
or the Republican leaders who
ave wavered between extremes
nd have not seemed certain what
curse to pursue. In the west. the