The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-05

With the arrival of General Pershing there will be revival of his presiden- tial boom. The republicans are p-epar- ing to make a study of that boom for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not it will be deeply rooted and perma- nent. Heretofore. it's course has been that of a June bug attached to the end of string.
 If the Pershing boom is not solid. then farewell to hero candidate next year. The General Wood boom has about ex- ploded The people have not rallied to the martyr" cry. and Wood has had no other cry to raise.
 In connection with Pershing there are two facts to be considered, the politi- clans agree. The United States has never failed to honor transcendent hero with the presidency. There is no ques- tion but that Pershing is a transcendent hero. He commanded the largest army ever produced by the United States, and commanded it successfully in the greatest war of the world. And having com manded. his course is criticised from no section of the country
 And again, no man has yet spurned. ignored or even neglected to nurture an icipient boom which gave actual prom ise of the presidency. It is thought probable that General Pershing, though in no wise a politician. will prove no exception to the rule. And even if Per shing should decline in the beginning to embrace with expected fervor the op- portunity he will have his father-in-law to reckon with. His father-in-law, Sem ator Warren, is a republican of the old school, and very wise one at that.
 As to whether or not General Pershing could win is another thing. soldier
 in Washington some days ago sak.. General Pershing would make a splen- did President, but it would be cruel to force him to run under a handicap of 900 soldier votes.''
 There is no question that General Per shing is not the popular idol of his sol diers that Washington, Grant and Lee were-especially Grant and Lee. This is said to be due to the fact that the ex-
 gencies of modern warefare renders it impossible for commander-in-chief to mingle personally with his men as com manders in other days were wont to do with great credit to themselves. In France. General Pershing was a machine. 1 And no man is enamoured of machine
  ly successful it's operation. He admires, perhaps, but does not love.
 At the same time, it is thought improb-
 ,le that General. Pershing is so lack
 in that variety of affinity which
 raws the souls of men as to be termed
 npopular. Republicans estimate, it is
 nown to be true, that he would break
 Ten'' on the soldier vote, which esti-
 ate is admission that he would not get , the entire vote This is one of the phases entering into the situa ton which gives the republicans pause.
 General Pershing unquestionably pleased" the people of the United 1, when he refused to be catechised by a subcommittee of the republican invAs-,- gating cimmittee, member of which was Loyal Johnson. who not long since served as 9 lieutenant under the com lmander- in chief His independence was satisfying. Nevertheless, he will go be- fore Congress on his return to the United States And as result he will be com
 pelled to take position on the many vital questions in the solution of which the nation as a whole is presently en- gagged.
 regarding the size of the peace army the plan for universal compulsory military training, the covenant of the league of nations, the conduct of war activities by the administration of President Will son, the cost of living problem and many others regarding which the people are di- vided in doubt and skepticism and hope.
 And to be the republican candidate, his opinion must coincide with the repub- lican opinion as it prevails in Congress. He must declare himself an inveterate and uncompronising opponent of the league of nations. This would alienate democrats, and thus make impossible the Pershing candidacy as one on which the nation could agreed neutral, non- partisan candidacy.
 General Pershing has never stated that he was a democrat or republican. But the republicans have quietly appropriated him. The general is soldier and not politician. And it is highly probable, according to those who know him best, that he has never in his life cast vote for individual or measure.
 But in a political sense, his coming IS