Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-09

4 wilson, widely known Nebraska
lawyer and member Of the law firm
Of Burkett, Wilson & Brown of this
city, has issued letter advocating
the nomination of Gen. John ].
Pershing by the national republican
convention.
Mr.. Wilson was an instructor Of
law at the University of Nebraska
when General Pershing, then COM
mandant at that institution, was
taking the law course there. He
knows General Pershing we'll, ad-
mires him greatly, and believes he is
thoroughly equipped by natural en-
dowment, by training and by ex-
perience for the presidency.
In his letter Mr.. Wilson .sas:
"In the earlier days of the repub-
lie the president of the United
States was regarded principally as
the chief executive of the nation.
The last, few decades have wit
messed radical change in our con-
ceptions of the duty of president.
The constitution originally contem-
plated that the president should
from time to time give the congress
information on the state of the
union and recommend for its con-
sideration such measures as he
should judge necessary and ex-
pedient.
Chief Legislative Factor.
ITO this function of giving infor-
nation and recommending meas
ures the constitution also adds the
function of approving or vetoing
measures passed by the congress. In
our later development the people
have learned to look primarily to
the president as the chief factor in
national legislation. While the Con-
gressmen are elected by districts
and the Senators by states, the
president is elected by the nation,
and all parts of the country feel that
they have had a greater and more
direct influence in the election of the
president than in the choice, of
either the senate or the house. This
doubtless accounts for the modern
tendency of the people to look to
the president for the enactment of
laws as we'll as for their execution.
This added duty of the president re-
quires the exercise of greater power
and demands peculiar qualifications.
The people of America now de-
rnand in president broad vision,
clear thinking, firm determination
and compelling personality. The
ideal president is one capable of de-
yising ways and means to carry out
the will of the people; capable of
estimating men at their true worth,
surrounding. himself by those who
are capable of giving the best Sup
port, and possessing such COM
pelling. personality as to lead others
to accept his point of view.
Proved Himself Capable.
General Pershing has had an ex-
tensive and varied career, and has
proved himself capable and worthy |
IN every situation in which he has
been placed. The organization of
great army on foreign soil, more
than 5000 miles from its base of
supply, was task no other general
has ever been called upon to per-
form. The organization, equipment
and physical maintenance of the
American army under these circum-
stances was clearly the largest busi-
ness enterprise that Ameria has ever
entered Upon. No American gen.
eral ever was given so extensive au-
thority or exercised powers so varied |
and extensive. The supreme success
Of this, the greatest of Americas
business enterprises, is now known
TO all the world.
SIN the progress Of the war Gen.
eral Pershing was called upon to
meet and solve some of the most
difficult and embarrassing diplomatic
questions America has ever had to
face. While America Jagged far be-
hand in the production of aircraft,
II is noteworthy that General Per-
shing by his diplomacy assembled
at St. Mihie! the greatest air force
ever assembled on the face of the
earth under single command. At
a time when 90 per cent of our men
we're going overseas in English
ships, England and France both de-
handed that cnly infantry and ma
:. inc gunners should be transported,
and these to renew the wasting
'anks of our allies; and this plan
was in the war council approved by
he premiers and commanders of all
he allies. In face Of this unanimous
military and civil opinion of our al
les General Pershing announced the
formation Of the American army
ind frankly told the council that it
would be an American army that
would win the war. To stand sim
and alone for the organic :
,ation of an independent American
ltmy, against the combined judg-
nent Of the premiers and all the
,ther COMMANDERS at time when
80 per cent of that army must be
in vessels other than
American, required moral courage
# the highest type. To bring the
,thers to his viewpoint is meas7
ire Of :he compelling power of his
personality.
Wisdom of Decisions.
"None would now be more ready
o approve the wisdom of that de-
ision thar those who there so lit
erly0 opposed it. 1t was General
oershing who first urged the neces-
ity of unified military command,
=