The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-07-15
BY {. F. CLIPSON.


America, ever reSOurceful and willing
to try anything once has shown the
spirit Of true democracy by going to
various professions for its presidents
The first one was a civil engineer and
since his time the White House has
been occupied by lawyers. diplomats
professional politicians, a planter, sol
dierS tailor two college presidents
one of whom also preached little, ana
the other of whom practiCed law lit
tie, and several others who at various
times in their careers were identified
with trail blazing, farming, legislating
and The law. Now the supreme expert
ment Is to be tried, for Ohio, mother Of
presidents, has produced twins. and,
singuarly enough, both are newspaper
men. The claim has long come from
various sources that the newspapers
run the country, so nothing is more
logical than an editor as chief execu-
tive
Barring accidents or the totally I'M
expected, either Editor Harding or Ed
itor Cox will sit in the presidential
chair March 4, 1921. The consensus of
opinion gathered from public express
sions and the news of the day, is that
II is an experiment worth trying. No
very pronounced evidences of worship
for either candidate seem manifest as
yet in the great body of the electorate,
but that is condition in keeping with
the editorial personality and may cas-
lily change as the campaign warns up.
Until the day of signed news articles
and editorials changed the condition"
slightly, the newspaper man has al
ways been somewhat submerged
voluntarily submerged - personality.
He has been most potent leader and
director in his quiet way, but seldom
for him the heroic role. He has created
many heroes, but little hero worship
has come to him. His ideals would not
admit of 1t. Cincinnatus patiently
blowing is more ideal in the general
newspaper creed than Cincinnatus
leading armS2S.
Now the editor gets in front of in
stead of behind the calciums bright
glare. The public will, metaphorically,
their very souls; but as each has had
some stripping in state politics the or
deal will be less severe. Also, the pro
fessional halo makers, in this case the
nf
dates will soon be charging upon the
nobility of the editorial calling and the
self-sacrifcing qualities which 1t en-
tails. Already the halos are In the
molds and before November It is safe to
assert. both candidates will be heroes
to their respective followers, although
at present they are just level-headed
representative citizens, with consider
able edge IN ability over the average.
The exaltation will extend, In some
degree, to the whole newspaper profes-
sion. and some there are who think
this will not be a good thing. Any
way, after next March the people will
have an opportunity to see how an edi-
tor, VINO never fallS 10 tell now the
country should be run, will run 1t him
self
The aftermath Of the Democratic
convention has not been greatly dis
similar to that OF the Republican con
claye The bulk Of party sentiment,
with the exception Of the naturally
diepruntlpd seems inclined ia abide by
Governor Cox, Just as the bulk Of Re
publican sentiment abides by Senator
Harding Bean spillers have been ac-
tive in both parties and Nicholas Muir
ray Butler, in his attacks on the forces
of corruption, did not say any more
indeed not as much, as William Jen-
nlnGs Bryan, in post-conyention utter.
anees, has said along the same strain.