The Washington herald., 1920-02-01
leader Declares Belief That
No Military Man Will
! Be Chosen:
SAYS NEUTRAL WINS
Financial Interests Dispose
Of Lowden-Harding
Likely Prospect.
By WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
(Copyrieht. 1e2O.)


publican Presidential candidates in
sesad Of those Of my own party. an
gwer. first. that more Republicans
nave announced their candidacy; and.
second. that 1t Is less embarrassing to
discuss Republican than Democratic
candidates.
There are certain general principles
hat must be observed in considering
,nyones' candidacy. The first is that
availability is not always synonymous
, With merit; that is. one man may be
much more deserving generally than
another. and yet less available as
candidate
Success in politics may be decribed
= the conjunction of preparedness
nd opportunity. Many may be pre-
AIRED and have no opportunity; some
nay have opportunity and yet not
C prepared to take advantage OF II.
ances-circumstances beyond
ontrol of the individual-may play a
cry important part One may he
specially fitted for the Presidency in
lem Of war. while another may be
much better fitted for a Presidential
erm in time of peace.
Straw Votes for wood.
In comparing the candidates. there
ore. I mean no reflection upon those
Ehom 1 may think less available.
hey may be. in some cases, Superior
those who are especially available
I this time.
The leading Republican candidate.
far. is Gen. Leonard Wood. The
traw votes give him first place. and
e is the only candidate who has
eceived the Endorsement of a State.
Whether he will eb allowed to pres
tent te soldier elemnt alone or will
ind a competitor in Gen. Pershing is
! ct to be SEEN
1t would not be surprising IL these
wo men should finally become ac-
Ice competitors for the votes of those
Fho are inclined to a military candi
ate.
Circumstances accentuate the diff
erences between them. Gen. Per-
hing received the military opportu-
rity that Gen. Wood coveted. The
'ormer will rest his claim upon
What he did accomplish, while the
after will build upon what he might
ave accomplished thus giving
wings TO Imagination. They are not
,nly rivals from a military stand
,oint. but they appeal to different
lements in the party.
Legntee of Roosevelt.
Gen. Wood is residual Iegatee of
ormer President Roosevelt, while
zen. Pershing, being the son-in-law
f Senator Warren. will naturally be
nore acceptable to the standpat ele-
heut.
But is this the time for a military
andidate? The War is over and the
establishment of the league of ma
ions looks to the prevention of war
the future. The conditions are
.ot such as demand a military can
idate: on the contrary. a military
eadeT would seem out of place.
+ Chether we consider the world at
arge or our domestic problems. The
cague of nations is an American
1ea and rests upon what our coun-
~ has already accomplished in the
ERECTION of peace.
The nomination of military
nan at such a time would raise a
question as to our pacific inten-
ions; IL would indicate a feeling
Il home incompatible with the
Eorld's hope of peace. Men of
,qual honesty are liable to be
moulded by their environment. and
he environment of a soldier would
make him deal with international
Iuestions in a soldierly way rather
han with a ivew to avoiding war.
Military Man UnHt.
A military man in the White
Iouse would be even more unfit
or domestic policies The triumph
Il the democratic idea in the war
.annot fail to give an impetus to
he popularizing of our own gov
,rnment and a professional soldier.
'owever democratic in principle.
would naturally lean toward arbi-
rary methods in government.
In a government like ours Der.
'uasion is the method more and
more employed. whereas in the
Irmy the officer in authority COM
fnands and does not permit uues-
ioning. a professional soldier at !
he head of the government would |
hill the growing enthusiasm in
avor of putting the heopls in |
somplete control of their own gov !
,rnment.
The labor question will be one of the
prominent issues in the campaign-,
rot some particular branch of the Ia
Jor question, but the far-reaching and
,ontinuous struggle of the laboring
nan for the betterment of his condi-
ion. The soldier Is always brought !
nto a labor dispute by the capital
site side, and his sympathies are
naturally with that class. However
Ionest he may be. he cannot put him
elf in the wage-earner's place and
consider the question from that point
u view.
Civilian or Soldier.
The first big question for the Re-
Iublican party to decide, therefore is
shether they will commit the party to
he leadership of a professional SOL
lier or seek a civilian leader. They
rave a number Of civilian candidates
o choose from. but these represent
opposite elements
Gov. Lowden. Of Illinois, belongs to
} he reactionary crowd, he was In the
intention of 1872 at Chicago and ae-
lively listed on the Taft side; he can
iariIy expect support from the pro-
sresxives- His Identification with the
sullman Company gives to the cor
element In the country a suffi- |
to his conserv- /