Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-29
Il ANYBODY !, Caudidatcr


THIS is indeed Il mos, remarkable politi-
1 cal campaign. The field is wide open
to any citizen who happens TO have been
born i'll tho United States and has attained
Il Qualifying age to aspire to the presidency.
No man or group Of men has a lien upon
either the Republican or the Democratic
nominations. Nobody can prevent anybody
else from running as fast as he may or from
hoping as fcrvently rs he can.
Yet few seem TO be avowcd candidates for
this great Office. Vast organizations have
been thrown behind individual statesmen.
scores OF skillful press agents have been
hired. Enormous sums Of money are being
raised and expended. Primaries arc being
held. Campaign managers are buzzing
about. Committeeman are so thick that the
voter can scarcely wedge his way TO the bal
lot box. All this is true, and yet there are
practically no candidates.
First OF all. the President is not il can
didatc. We have this upon the most relia-
BILE authority. and yet the day scarcely passes
that somebody does not say something mys-
,criously about Il third term. Mr.. McAdoo
is not II candidate. He refuses to allow his
name TO appear on the primary ballots. He
Shrinks from the possibility OF his nomina-
zion.
Herbert Hoover. if his protcstations are
TO be believed, likewise shurs tho thought
OF Il party nomination. He is supposed to be
against both parties. Neither has any charms
~ '.'h' 'i'Ni 'Ns'F' vi "ii a putty
nomination. He declines to have his name
on any ballot notwithstanding the fact that
a nationwide organization has been per-
iccted to make him President. and money
ana energy are being poured into the effort.
Governor Lowden has animated that he
is merely Il receptive candidate, as has Sena-
tor Harding. But the most surprising of all
the utteianccs. announcements destinations
and other statements upon this general sub
lect Is That made by the managers Of the
Leonard Wood campaign in answer to the
charges of high financing in his behalf.
According to this statement. General
Wood Is not Il candidate" for the presi-
dency. THE Office is seeking him" it is
added. 1t would be unbecoming on his part
TO engage actively in Il scramble for this
exalted position in the nations affairs. And
Yet the general has been campaigning from
end TO end OF the country. He asked for
and was granted Il leave OF absence from the
army for two months in order to run away
from an Office that sought him. il now de-
velops. instead Of for the purpose OF pur-
srinG The office. y campaign fund Of
Sl,00O.0Q0 or more has been subscribed TO.
it is shown, TO make Il man President who
i not Il candidate.
IVhy aspirant3 FOR the presidency should
assume such an attitude as that is beyond
human understanding. They themselves
know that they are active, running. cleo
tionc"ring candidates and the country knows
it. They are not iooling themselves and
they arc not .Ooling the American peoplc.
who want the nomination to lie nboveboard
ABOUT il. httorrey-Gencral Palmer. Scna-
tor Hiram Johnson and one or two others
have said frankly and uHbluShingly that they
are candidates. and their opponents should
do the same thing.