Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14
BY \. 0. MESSENGER.

politics. The query WAS ihU"
the fact that since Gen. Pershins ar
rival on these shores and the wonoer-
fuI ovation given him by the people
the politicians have pondered deepiS
and profoundly over the genera po'
sible political future.
will he be a candidate for the presl-
dency or permit himself to be mace
candidate? If so, which OF the oiu
parties would be his sponsor, or per-
chance. would some new party cr!s-
talIize out of the chaotic political III
dustrial and social conditions exist
emit and choose him for its sandaro-
bearer? Branching out from these
queries. an illimitable field OF speeu-
lation was traversed.
And meanwhile. so far as giving any
q. definite indication of his feelings the
Egyptian Sphynx is babblins brook
compared to Gen. Pershing.
* = = Z
The best judgment of the rank and
hle of the politicians is that no den
mite announce
READY TO RIDE ment of the gen.
CREST OF WAVE. erals attitude
toward the presi-
dency will come until there is some
spontaneous indication of the state
of public feeling on the subject.
This is regarded as good politics. In
the circumstances. by many of the old
staRers. If there should well forth
from the fountain sources of popular
.~. IN,
military hero for President, the poll
tician would gladly embark upon the
crest of the wave.
Or. in another possibility. not to say
contingency, should there exist in this
country a state Of unrest, threatening
anarchy and disorder. causing de-
mand for an executive of strong arm
and stern decision, around whom all
elements Of order could rally in pre-
venting the disintegration of Ameri-
can institutions, the nomination
might come to him without effort on
the part of political managers. it was
suggested.
At this particular day and hour the
disposition most pronounced among the
great political leaders
SANS sTRAWs; Of both parties in
SANS WIND. Congress-and that is
where they are found
in major numbers-is to 'let politics
stew in its, own juice. for the present.
II is the subject of comment that sell
dom in the past has there been such
;ntx he v,roSiaonfial
paign at this approximate stage Of pro-
ceedings, ordinarily, and normally. with
in three months'th the national committees
. would be meeting here to select the
time and place Of holding national con-
ventions for the nomination of the pres
idential ticket. Whiting ninety days
managers would be laying their lines to
round up the southern delegates to the
conventions. Names of possible candi
dates would be banded about daily.
Now. there are no straws in the wind
and not enough wind to carry them in
q definite direction IL there were.
- ~ II
The statement has been frequently
made in and out Of Congress in the past
forth ght that
OLD PARTY LINES normal political
ARE DIM TODAY. lines show signs
Of disintegrating
in many parts Of the country: Of disap-
pearing in some places and in others of
merging into a twilight zone of politics
where old trails become indistinguish-
able. A vast restlessness has taken hold
of - y,oor1a 10 lid ino in; ,,,
patience with all conditions. a peevish-
ness with rulers. surroundings and even
with 1aws-almost desire to run
amuck. The wiseacres on the hill offer
many explanations. but most of them
resolve into the leading suggestion that
this unrest is an aftermath Of war. ex-
plainable upon psychological grounds:
that it is of nature but temporary. does
not 60 to the heart Of the people and will
disappear in the face of any real crisis
threatened.
The philosophers. they say, in future
years will look back upon the year 1919
and ind root causes for all the exhibit
lions Of the times; the unexplainable
race outbreaks. as ferocious and savage
as they were sudden and unwarranted:
the strike fever. the mania for profiteer-
ing and exploiting, the upboiling from
the depths Of the vicious dregs of So
ciety upon every occasion when the
strong arm of the law was removed
from holding the lid down; and
x x 4
But. here; don't let's get too serious
about this thing. REWRITING to presi-
Dental politics, it
WOODS HAT is better to watch
IN KING SOON. the stewing and
the blu b b linz e.
Speaking Of military heroes. there
are others" Gen. Leonard Woods
candidacy for the republican nomina-
ton on the republican ticket-pro-
gressive with big Pts expected to
be announced almost any hour now.
He is being backed by an element in
the republican national organization
which would have presented Col.
Roosevelt for the nomination. This is
kind of tough on Senator Hiram
Johnson. the latter's friends say. But
Gen. Wood, 1T is said. wants the nom
nation and wants the people to
know 1t.
Champ Clark says it reminds him
of the lad who answered the adver-
ltisement of the st. Louis lawyer fol-
an Office boy He wrote: "Dere lawyer
wants that job and I wants it bad
Don't it beat hell how hard times ia
And he got the job. the lawyer con.