El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-30
AMERICA MUST BE CAREFUL
OF ITS PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE

DROBLEMS Of no less moment than those which president
Wilson has faced in his administration viii confront the
ns1t president Of the United States. At period IN
American history, not excepting 1850, has the need
been urgent than IN this year Of 1920 that the right
should be chosen to I'll the foremost office in the
world Indirectly only WI the people choose the man
The people viii elect the nominated by the
two dominant political parties but the real selection lies N
me hanss OF the leaders OF those pare Doth OF winch
VIII meet in June to select their standard bearers and
pIomulgate their Platforms
Under our party system Of government the people
little say who shall be the presidential nominees
Soe states have presidential preference primary laws but
N vast majority Of commonwealth party machines
name the delegates who, IN turn make the presidential
extent handpiced and the delegates often obey the mani
dates Of the party bosses.
True no party is going to act IN defiance Of the popu
Lar VIII, but year ike this when the rank and file
OF neither political party Is looking to any one man Tor
leadership when the nation to be cropping the
dark for the who may be able to guide ship
Of state Alright IN these pe0us times the opportunity is
offered those who have selfish interests to serve to bring
about the nomination and perhaps the election, Of
one wholly unfit to meet the great emergency It has hap
pened IN the past and may happen again, that few pow
eul men, representing still more powerful interests have
named party candidates for president of the United States
These politicians through vel organized propaganda create
what appears TO be nationwide demand for some man N
whom they know their interests can be trusted With this
surface sentiment worked the balance Of the task IS
Presidential candidates named IN this way nav be- as
in fact they have been in the past Of great ability
and personal integrity, but If they their nomination to
selfish interests, they have obligations to meet which
laIlluy Win plDlc gOol fOilllllals
eet their debts and no man IN public office serve the
people rightly and at the time pay debts they
unscrupuous Then, to- there IS the possibility that
these interests could elect wholly unworthy Of the
great trust bestowed upon him by the people
Aside from the danger that interests opposed to the
general public good may dictate the nominations there
the chance that through ignorance, mistaken Judgment
the people themselves may make mistake They viii
never knowingly elect the nations chief magistrate any
who lacks any Of the Qualifications needed IN
and honest ruler but to human, and unless the
ton gives careful and earnest thought to the subject
America may lind itself without the great leader that is
needed
With these dangers Of mistaken judgment and the
ties Of selfish interests confronting the nation II be-
hooTes every voter to diligently watch the signs Of the
study the qualifications Of al mentioned for the pres
dency- They should ascertain their records Of public
service their achievements in private life, and their views
Of public questions not only expressed by their spoken
word but portrayed by their actions and associations
and also theiT ability as leaders Of men
Every who aspires TO the high office should open
his life to public scrutiny. Let turn the light that
there shah be no skeleton IN the closet Of the we
choose 70 lead
If The nation Is On the alert no mistake viii be made
who VIII be Americas nan Of Destiny More than likely
he VII from the people, have great
leaders IN the past Probably he viii be whose pa
trotsm and ability tested in the great war, in one
way another Certain It IS If he fulls the ideals Of
the American people, he VIII be a man Of action
TIE first duty Of America today IS TO that the right
is named, regardless Of his party. Men greater
than parties this year The independent voters Of the
Try those and women who refuse TO be rubber
stamps voting for the their parties select regardless
the United States They watching and waiting for the
right to appear, and they VIII know him Vhen they
see him