Evening journal., 1920-04-05
NEBRASKA HAS
PERSH|NG BOOM
State Will Nominate A. E. r.
Leader at Primary on
April 20
PEOPLE THINK
WELL OF HIM
a,ac,al 70 The Evening Journal

Nbecial to The Evening Journal
lincoln. Neb April $50 quietly
mai the rest Of the country Is iusc be-
ginning TO ilnd out about it, there has
been coming to fruition In Nebraska 2
"pcrshing-for- President boom winch
is going to put somo new kinks In the
national situatlon-or experienced po-
liucal prophets miss their guess.
Just to show that the boom is nc
ohimera. one statement may be made
with almost absolute safety. IL is:
Nebraska is going to nominate Perish
ing on the Republican ticket at the pri-
marles April 20.
A nation which has never succeeded
In setting past the unaltrabie Pershing
reserve much farther than the fact that
he was born in Missouri, Will probably
arise 10 ask.
what in the world has Nebraska
got TO do with Pcrshingf
Well Nebraska has a good deal-or
thinks IT has. In the first place, PERISH
ing happens to have maintained his
home-or at least such a home as an
army man may have--in Lincoln for the
past ten or fifteen years. In The second,
Pershing spent part OF his carly career
in Lincoln as an instructor In military
tactics at the Nebraska University
then. shades OF William Jennings, the
abode OF a highly complete student
training system. And in the thlrd-if
any third is necessary-some erudite
old political veterans in Nebraska are
OF the opinion that John ]. pershing has
a little better chance OF being elected
President next November than any of
the Republican candidates who have yet
entered the flcld
BY this time that humble political
hystander. The American voter. Will
probably have begun to note REM
niscen. t,nges in a memory chord
or two, and will remark, above or be-
meath his breath
That. II happens. Is true. A certain
Frank H. Hitchcock. who Is now maneg-
ing The campaign Of certain MIR. Leonard
Wood. made quite a. long irip-thc
breadth OF The Atlantic was It's exact
mcasuremeni-to confer with ]. j.
pcfshing on matters presidential. And
e. Frank IT, HichcocS, General Perish
Ing cmphafically said NO
However. OH that was some time ago.
in the occasion Ia question, Pershing
probably showed Judgment. IN accept
snce might hoyc been resented by the
American people as an attempt TO capi-
tslize The glory pershing had Won al
tie head of this nations armies. That
he reasoned II out is doubtful. lie just
said No" in The PCrshing fashion, and
Prank Hitchcock came back home.
Since thai remote occasion. things
have occurred The Republicans. in
stead 0f deyioping single candidate.
have Al least three runners-up for the
rominalion who are close enough 80
cath othcf 20 make matters interesting.
ghc war has largely been forgotten.
aud with II. ihc objections which might
have hccn voiced against an immcd-
aid campaign by victorious general.
Finally. some o. pcrshings Lincoln
reslbors-toge'hcr with few OF me
hle men he met during the war and
'f1n by his extraordinary capacities
have gone to him quietly and said
! ook here. John. you're making G
Ing mistake n you don't let the people
~ Nebraska nominate ypu and give the
est Of the country a chance to vote on
\ on. anyhow. There are breakers ahead
fof ihe Tinted states. John. and u needs
ou.'
'Probhaly sho earlier pcrshins can
Y34scrs forgot 60 nut in that line about
isc country needing him. or maybe
pc.shins didal cons der the Indications
ih.! 4 was true sufficiently strong then.
Whatever the ieason. good argument
>,ss missed-;hc only one which could
be calculated to have much effect with
The subject in hand.
For believe it or not. disillusioncd
voter-Pershine H. Of that almost ex
iinci species which actually thinks that
he first duty oi an American is 10 his
country Il sounds so Incredible that
ro ono viii believe It; yet it Is absolute
iy true. And that one argument. "thc