Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1920-04-07
Pershing as a Possibility
BY F. II. BARLOW.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 7--Neither
an aspiring nor an avowed candidate,
John J. Pershlng stands ready TO re-
spond to the call OF duty, is willing TO
be drafted into the presidency; he
needed only TO be convinced OF the
authenticity OF the call and the sin
certify OF the demand.
This fact, coming today from a
source OF authority beyond ell ques-
ton, will serve not only 70 dissolve
any doubt his friends and admirers
may have entertained, but the above
definite statement, Will, 10 Is confident
ly predicted, now rally to the Per-
shing standard, national and State Re-
publican leaders who have heretofore
been non-committal as the preslden-
tial preference or who. favorable TO
the Pershirg candidacy have been
waiting for definite word as to the
Generals attitude.
That no american has the right 20
refuse such a summons 10 duty, once
10 is made clear and emphatic, Is the
attitude General persbng assumes &
ward increasing efforts to draft hlr
for The presidency. The sincerity OF
this demand was sufficiently demon
strated when 5000 Nebraska Republic
cans last week petitioned for Per-
shing's name on the State primary
ballot: II has been reiterated since by
The voluntary and spontaneous insist
ence OF Republican leaders in Wash
ington and elsewhere.
fmnefuc fof. Naffon.I nno,.
The above authoritative statements.
coming from source unquestionably
reliable, leave no room for further
doubt as to the Generals state Of
mind. 10 is the signal for which
many far-sighted Republican leaders
have been waiting It's immediate ef-
feet is already being felt here, and the
ultimate result will be 20 cement and
arouse Pershing sentiment heretofore
apparent gener3lly, but thus far sub
dded and largely quiescent because Of
the uncertainty existing up TO this
time. Experienced leaders here see
In this latest Qualification OF the Cen
erals attitude toward the presidency
possibilities OF the greatest import
ance between now and Chicago
The Oldest political sage cannot re-
call a situation corresponding 10 that
which has existed her up 10 this time.
With the Chicago convention but three
months away and several open and
avowed candidates in the field sup
ported by machines and deliberately
financed and directed, the average
state politician. iourneying to WISH
inglng as the foutaln-head OF political
Information, gets only a negative or
evasive answer TO his first question
Who's going to be nominatedg" Out
side OF a very few leaders whose per-
sonal bias or geographical location has
placed an answer IN their
seekers here after political
tips on the presidency have been an
swered with Cant tell yet; sentiment
hasn't crystallzedn Reports brought
TO Washington indicate the same de-
gree OF uncertainty over the nation.
What Leaders Demand.
Reason for this uncertainty ls found
IN the fact that Republican leaders are
duly impressed with the serious prob
lens confronting them. They have
not as yet been able 10 satisfy them
selves as TO the exact fitness OF those
seeking the nomination. on
every hand is admittedly a sentiment
demanding that the candidate named
at Chicago must be in close touch
with business and the everyday affairs
Of the nation; he must also be famil-
lar with world affairs, and OF such |
standing as to warrant immediate re-
'pectful recognition from the nations /
n the world; he must be neither die /
ator theorist, nor hobbyist-a man |