Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-09
GEN. PERSH|NG NOT
T0ENTER POLITICS
Denies His Retirement Means
He Aspires to Head G. O. P.
National Ticket.

Gen. Pershing and his father-in-law
Senator Warren, have denied the
rumor that the retirement of the
general from active duty in the Army
was due to the fact that he would go
to Chicago and take the republican
! national convention by storm.
| Gen. Pershing stated positively that
| his, retirement is absolutely without
political Significance and that he in
| tends to enter private business. 4
schedule of Gen. Pershing's engage
ments made public refutes the report
| that he expects to attend the Chicago
convention. He will leave Washing
! ton Saturday to attend the exercises
at West Point. and leave there Tues
day to review national guard regi-
ment in Brooklyn.
Gen. Pershing's engagements.
| A speech at Virginia Military Acad-
| envy, June IS. and acceptance of de-
grees at Williams University. June
q; Yale, June %. and Harvard, June
"a. will be followed by a return to
! Washington to take up his duties in
connection with Army reorganization.
Following conference with Gen.
Pershing yesterday Senator Warren
denied that he had any intention of
| starting a stampede for the general at
the Chicago convention. He is leav-
ing Washington today for his home
In Cheyenne, Wyo., and will stop off
|
Senator Warren's Statement.
Senator Warren made the following
statement:
| Il do not know anything about a
statement made by the general to the
effect that he would accept if the nomi-
nation were proffered him.
I have not been approached by any
of the republican leaders in Chicago
on the subject and 1 do not think he
has.
| There was some comment when he
had luncheon with me over at the Sen
ate a few days ago, but on that occa-
sion and again tonight our talk was
confined to personal matters about
property and SO on.
Il have not discussed the convention
or his possible presidential aspirations
with him. And l do not know of any
plan or move to put Pershing in nomi-
nation at Chicago"
Application Goes to President.
Secretary Baker has referred Gen
Pershing's application for retirement
to the President and will defer a reply
to Gen. Pershings letter until the
chief executive makes known his
wishes in the matter Under the
statutes governing retirements in the
Army, an officer reaching the age of
sixty-four years is retired automati-
cally, and on reaching the age of
sfxty-two years he may be retired by
the President in his discretion.
| An officer may retire on his own ap-
plication after forty years active serv-
| ice. With the Presidents approval an
| omcer also may be retired on his own
application after thirty years serv-
ice. Gen. Pershing's case is in the
last mentioned category. He will be
sixty years of age September 80 next
and has had thirty-eight years of
active service. His retirement there
fore requires the sanction of the
| President. War Department officials
believe the application will be granted.
| Secretary Baker indicated that ac-
ton will be forthcoming within a
short time. there being no special
occasion for haste, Is Gen. Pershing's
duties in connection with the reor-
ganization of the Army will not be
completed for several days.