New-York tribune., 1919-05-02
Frank W. Knox, of Man
chester ''Union-Leader.'' -
Starts Boom to Make Him
the Republican Candidate
Party's Logical Nominee
Asserts General Represents
Roosevelt's Ideas and
Is Constructive Leader

-hANI He's IEk, N. H., April 2S.-
frank w. Knox, editor and publishe1
OF The Manchester Union-L Leader" ar
independent newspaper or large circu.
iation in Northern New England, to
day declared for General Leonard
wood for President on the Republican
ticket in 1920.
n Major Knox served with Wood anl
RRoosevelt in the Spanish American
war, got bullet hole in his hat al
San Juan and has just finished two
years in the great war. He enlisted
hs private and came out as a major
with c. II. S. recommendation for a
lieutenant colonelcy. To Tribune
inquiry, Major Knox made the follow
ing statement:
The state of New Hampshire is pre-
sented with an opportunity right now
which it has not had since the days OF
Franklin Pierce. 1t may give its sup
port to the candidacy of native son
for the Presidency. Among all the
names of Republicans listed as avail
able as the standard bearer of the
party in the approaching contest, the
name of Leonard Wood, born in Win
chester, n. H., bulks largest
Movement Is Nationwide
The movement to make General
Wood the nominee of the Republican
proportions and is receiving favorable
consideration at the hands of Repub-
lican leaders of every shade of political
tendency and in all sections of the
country.
ut is none too early for New
Hampshire, the state of Woods ma
tivity, whose people have watched his
development into a great national
leader with growing pride, to give the
movement to nominate him for Presi-
dent emphasis and enthusiastic in
dorsement. New Hampshire ought to
take the lead in support of this splen-
aid, forceful and successful admin
istrator and soldier whom she gave
to the world.
"The availability of General Wood
does not find its basis in the very
real grievance which New Hampshire,
in common with all of the other
states, has against the political and
military cabal which kept the senior
major general and former chief of
staff of the american army in this
country while the great war was in
progress. That is a part of the past
which the country will do we'll to
forget, excepting to remember that
its victim took his disappointment like
soldier and continued to give the
best that was in him to the training
OF troops for overseas service.
There are many reasons why the
country is looking to Leonard Wood
for leadership in these crucial days.
"First, because he has proved him.
sclt great and preeminently success
ful administrator in times when the
details of administration receive scant
attention. While the Federal govern
lrent concerns itself with highly ideal
istic and untried theories of world reg
ulation, the thoughtful men of the ma
ton yearn for a leader who will
bring his best powers to the task of
domestic reconstruction, the rehabili-
Ytation of our interrupted industry and
commerce, the organization of our re-
sources for the greatest period of ex-
pansioa of our export trade we have
ever contemplated, tho application of
our war-buSlt merchant marine to the
purposes of peace, the reestabhshment
of railroad transportation upon
sound basis, and the various other
problems of acute importance which
aw 1T attention--and at present re-
ceive none.
First for Preparedness
Second, Leonard Wood is held in
! highest esteem because he did more
than any other official in American
public life to provide the only measure
of preparedness for participation in
the war that was taken prior to our
entrance-the establishment OF the
APlattshurg system of training for re-
serve officers and the sole provision
of any sort made for possible hos
ilities- The Plattsburgh idea was
Woods. More than this, Wood alone,
among officials in or out of the army,
had the perspicacity to see and the
courage to warn the people Of the
country of the dangers that Lay ahead
and Of the certainty of this nation
ultimately being compelled 70 do lts
part in defeating PrrsBia1lEm- II Eu9
for this he guffered- and the high
value of that service is thus only re-
Emphasized
Third, the Wood candidacy appeals
10 that great number of Repnblicans-
d vast ma orTty-who looked to The~-
dore Roosevelt for political guidance
and who confidently expected him to
be the unanimous choice OF his party
for tbs Presidential nomination next
year.
Beyond an others Leonard Wood en-
joyed the confidence and friendship Of
Theodore Roosevelt. No man eva did
Leonard Woods thinking for him. and
the two had their friendly differences,
lbut both approached public questions
md public .duties from precisely the
ame angle and usually arrived at the
anne destination. There can be little
oubt but that General Wood would
be Theodore Roosevelt's choice, we're
khe latter still living anA asked to
make a selection for Republican leader
In 1920