Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-20
Shattered Precedents
-HE nominations at Chicago and San
Francisco upset the traditions of
Amarioan history and disreparded the

-HE nominations at Chicago and San
Francisco upset the traditions of
American history and disregarded the
precedents of American politics. War heroes
received little or no consideration as pros
: pective candidates at either of the conven-
ions Former Ambassador Gerard, comment
ing on the nominations, remarks that he is
wholly unable to understand that both par
ties ignored those who had been responsible
for the conduct of the war. The Republicans
nominated a Senator and the Democrats
named governor. The World War is
the first in the history of the United
States that has not produced a successful
Presidential candidate.
George Washington, the first President,
was commander-in-chief of the American
armies in the struggle for independence.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who
succeeded General Washington, in the order
named, served on the committee that re-
ported the Declaration of Independence, and
Jefferson was the author of that immortal
document, so that it is fair to rate the first
three Presidents as products of the Reyou-
tionary War.
James Monroe was the first president
elected after the War of 1872, with the
prosecution of which he had been intimately
identified as Secretary of State and Secretary
of War in the intervals between 1911 and
1877. Monroe also had served with distinc-
ton as colonel in the Revolutionary war.
The real hero Of the War OF 1917 now,
ever. did not reach the White house UNI
1898 Andrew Jackson was the popular 1dol
of the American people as a result OF ms
war record. He failed of election to the
Presidency in 1924 when the elecuon was
thrown into the House OF Representatives
/. hut was elected four years later ana again
in 1882.
conor., Zachary Taylor, the Whig candi-
49, IN 1e4S was hero of the Mexican
war He defeated Senator Cass. Anothei
MEXICAN war leader was Presldentlai oan.
didate in 1852 General W1ntlelo ocoCt was
nominated by the Wings, but was deteateo
nv Franklin Pierce, who hao also oo0n q
general in the Mexican campaign:
The Republican party, IN 1Soo' turheu ~
tbe War Between the States for its candl-
late and nominated General ulysses .. Gla y
who had been commandments Oh lne
Union armies, although he had oeen De a1o
Graf ali his life He was reelected IN Io' Z.
pntberford r Hayes, elected in 1875, and
Garfield, who succeeded him IN 1851 ooth
had served as generals in the Union army
the gallant Winfield Scott Hancock was de-
feated by Garfield.
BENJAMIN Harrison had been general ano
William Mckinley had been major IN the
Union army in the War Between the States
Theodore Roosevelt was product or the
Snanish-American war; and there IS ne
doubling that his initial popularity with the
people was due in part to his participation III
the Battle of San Juan hill
But the campaign OF l92O-tne 1lrs'
since the World War armistice-flnds ne
(. soldier or war hero as the candidate OF either
of the great political parties. In view Of
history and tradition, it seems singular, as
Mr.. Gerard observes. Both parties overlooked
the soldiers who actively participated in the
stirring events on the western front anc
also the civilians who were con
nected in an authoritative way with the wal
administration. Yet both parties boosted
of any number of soldiers and civilians wh'
were conspicuous in the conduct Of the war
What is the reason for the political disre
gard of the heroes of the World War? The
men who helped to shape the course of events
at Chicago and San Francisco were not nov
< ices at the game of politics, and being what
they were it seems certain they were ia
p miliar with vote-catching qualities of war he
: roes Why, then, did they turn from the
abundance of ''war timber that was avail
able and select candidates who were far re
moved from the battlefields and remotely
connected with the civilian conduct of the
war?
It is suggested in some quarters that there
nothing in the conduct of the war, eithe
at home in America abroad on the field
Of battle, that inspired excessive enthusiasm
The suggestion, however, is not borne out b!
the facts. Certainly, the political wisacre
at Chicago and San Francisco had not for
got the waves of enthusiasm that swept owe
America as the reports came in from Can
tigny, st. Mihiel, Balleau Wood and Chateau
Thierry. There was an abundance Of yea
and pride everywhere manifested in the &C
complishments of American arms in thes
bloody and stirring clashes with the com
mon foe.