The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-07-23
Columbia Wills to Have Editor as
a Guide During Next
Four Years.
VIEWED As GOOD EXPERIMENT
An Apathetic Campaign Likely to
Warm Up-Ooinss Of Republican
Leaoers-Trade Restrictions With
Russia Lifted - Mexico More
Tranquil-Spa Conference
and Foreign Affairs.
BY e. E. 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 civil engineer. and
since his time the White House has
been occupied by lawyers. diplomats.
professional politicians. q planter, sol.
diers, tailor. two college presidents.
one Of whom also preached a little, and
the other Of whom practiced law lit
tie, and several .thers who at various
times In their careers were identified
with trail blazing farming, legislatinr
and the law. Now the supreme expert
ment is to be tried. for Ohio. mother of
presidents. has produced twins. and
singularly 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 cor ensus 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 a.
yet In the great body Of the electorate
but that Ia 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 a most potent leader and
director in his quiet way. hui 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 It. Cincinnatus patiently
blowing Is mere ideal in the general
newspaper creed than Cincinnatus
leading armies.
Now the editor gets In front OF In
stead Of behind the calcum's bright
glare. The public will. metaphoricaliy.
see two editors at least. stripped to
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
political managers of the two candi-
dates. will soon be enlarging upon the
nobility Of the editorial calling and the
seif-sacrificing qualities which II en-
tails. Already the halOs are In the
mOlds and before November II Is s'ite 10
assert. both candidates will be heroes
to their respective followers. although
M present they are just leveiheadeo
representative citizens, with consider
able edge In ability over the average
The exaltation will extend, In some
degree. to the whole newspaper PROBES
sion. and some there are who thihh
this will not he good thing Any
way. after next March the people WIZ
have an opportunity TO see how an eur
tor, who never fails 10 tell how the
country should he run. will run II MN
self.
The aftermath OF the Democratic
convention has not been greatly u'S
similar to that OF the Republican con
ciave. The bulk of party sentiment
with the exception Of the nafura,'!
disgruntled. seems inclined TO ABIDE D!
Governor Cox. just as the buik OF ne
publican sentiment abides by senator
Harding. Bean spillers have been az
tive in both parties and Nicholas Nu'-
ray Butler. in bis attacks on the iorceS
of corruption. did not say any NOR
indeed not as much. as William zen
nines BRYAN. in post-convention utter
aaces. has said along the same s'rai"