The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-15
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES.


Leslie's has been looking over the
field of possible presidential candi-
dates and the result is set forth, be-
ginning with the Republicans, as fol-
lows:
Charles E. Hughes. nominee of 1916.
investigator of the aircraft scandal,
active on war questions. who would
win this time hands down. his follow
ers believe.
General Pershing. COMMANDMENT
chief OF the victorious armies in
France. aloof from all partisanship
and factionalism, hero worshipped
turnout America
General Wood. evangel of prepared
ness, heir to something of Roosevelts
popularity. wounded in France.
Governor Walter =. Edge of New
Jersey whose record as a business
governor commended him to the peo-
pie of his state and led to his election
to the senate at Washington to repre-
sent his great industrial common.
wealth in this period of after-war re-
construction problems.
Senator Hiram Johnson of Cali
fornia. radical and progressive. so
strong in the west that Hughes could
not win without his support, a real
J heavyweight with admirers among ex-
tremist groups.
Senator Borah OF Idaho. strong
against ths league of nations, a pic
| turesuue figure from the west, oppon-
ent of suffrage.
Senator Kno-. of Pennsylvania. con-
structive exponent of league of ma
| tions, brilliant as secretary of state,
strong conservative following.
Senator Lodge OF Massa chusetts, bit
ter critic of Wilson on many issues,
| including league of nations.
Governor Lowden OF Illinois, who
| stands high with the business men,
farmers and workers of his state.
1 The Democratic situation is even
: more obscure National committee
men say Mr.. Wilson wants to write a
book and will not run. He certainly
| can name His successor il he wants to-.
Nobody can safely underrate his
strength as a candidate, should his
party override his objections against
| irving it again. Already there is talk
! of unforsing Clark as party leader in
! the house because of distant murmur
| of the presidential bee.
| McAdoo who made the liberty loan
go, launched the federal reserve and
| farm loan systems, and consolidated
| the railroads for war use. has been re-
| garded as a strong potentiality for the
! last four or five years. His connec-
ton with the movies upon resigning
| the treasury secretaryship is accepted
byt some of his friends as conclusive
1 proof that he is thru with politics.
| Baker of the war department might
be thought of by the president in con-
sidering some one to take the titular
leadership of his party. He would be
| a bitter dose for the Democratic poll
| ticians, and could not unite all party
| elements. His supposed mental re-
isemblance to Wilson would mot be
enough to set him up in a gong po-
| litical business.
4 ali &c tn "a
himself under consideration in cen
nection with the presidency. His
friends submit that g man who ad-
| ministered the navy department so ef-
! ficiently, who was so radical on price
fixing and so advanced on suffrage
1 and the liquor issue ought to have i
! chance.
The suggestion is even heard that
| the Democrats choose PershiBG.
Pershing is a great admirer of Will
SON He has kept out of politics. as
! Wood has done. Why" ask some
Democrats. shouldn't we profit in
stead of the r 9publi ,ans from PERISH
ing's work in France? A Democratic
administration sent him there"
Little is heard of Underwood SO
prominent a candidate in 1912. An
admirable, quiet figure in the senate
he has devoted himself to inconspicu-
Gus but arduous labors, apparently
content to miss the headlines
The followers of Mr. Bryan still
threb when the presidency is men,
toned. He was first in the field fol-
prohibition. He supported the cur
rency measure Now he is claiming
that his peace treaties form the rea
basis of the Wilson league of nations
To the extent of this origin, he
praises the league plan, with some in
timations that he could have done onS
better. He has no unreserved praise
for Mr.. Wilso /. Possibly he harbors
resentment at the way the Wilson
managers held him Odt of the lime
light in the last congressional cam
paiGn. Relying upon his strength ir
ithe west and south, ne is Undoubtedly
hoping fof the Democratic nomina-
ton, just as he sought it in 1912. Hc
may try to manipulate a field of fel.
low-candidates lust as he did then
The Democrats are keeping mighty
quiet. waiting for a trustworthy ink.
ling of what MIR. Wilson intends to do