Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-17
Senator Poindexter
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

Some facts about him are presented
here, not in any partisan spirit, but IN the
belief that every candidate for the Prcsl-
Dental nomination deserves to have his
claims set forth. The faskin Letter has
already written up number OF woliid-be
Presidents of both parties, and will CON
tInue it's canvass of possible Presidents
even if this involves, as now seems not
improbable, the writing mp Of the entire
Senate and n large percentage Of State
governors. Never IN the history Of The
country have so many good men offered
their services to the nation IN the highest
capacity Nearly everyone has now logt
count OF the more or less avowed candi-
dates for the Presidency, while an accurate
count Of Presidential possibilities and
favorite sons would be Job for the census
bureau. 1t il n heartening proof Of the
wonderful self confidence Of our public
men L. has been sand that no President
except Lincoln ever faced such ticklish
Job IA our next President will face, and
yet there is goodly company OF men who
admit they are equal tn the situation.
htgnouac cws owH CANDIDACY.
Senator Poindexter is pre-erninent among
these. He has frankly announced his own
candidacy. Hc docs not pretend that en-
thlsiastic friends are pushing hun INTO the
scrap despite his own reluctance Tic
wants the job and Says go. At the same
time. he does not conceal the fart that
there IL q crowd behind him to back hlm
up in bus efforts 10 get It
Some of these friends and backers have
kindly furnished an outline Of the Senator's
career and sketch Of his character, which
derives additional interest from the fact
that he IL not as well known To the public
as some Of the other aspuants. he Sena-
tor IS of Southern descent, vas born ~
Memphis and educated m Virginia tic
was denied the boon Of tmdcrnolIrshment
in childhood, which y 50 valuable TO
Presidential candidates, and II s not of
record that he ever performed Any hard
manual labor On the other hand We
learn that when ne oheyed Horace ',ree-
ly's behest to 90 West, At thc age of ~
he landed in WaIla Walla Washington,
with only ten dollars n his name hrs ia
surely point IN his favor, as IS also the
fact that he did not let anyone take his Tn
dollars away from him, hut hung on TO Il
and made Il grow.
His subsequent career = devoid of
sensational features, but wholly crcdit-
able. lie got married, became prfs"cut-
ing attorney, a Judge, a Congressman. and
finally Senator.
An unusual and interesting feature of
his candidacy IS that his physical q'ialiilca-
t,ons for tie Job are frankly advanced n
of some Importance Most Of the candi-
dates 70 date. Ike iGsraell are standing
excl,Isiveiy on their heads Proven ID
minstrative ability IS the chef qualfflca-
ton advanced on Iohah ol every one of
them Nothing Is offered 70 prove Lhai
they are physically ft r. stand the STRAIN
and effort of running nation at hiZil
speed surely this Is m oversight
Physical examinations Tor Presidential
candidates would seem odd, but they
would surely represent a wise preeaufion
The administration Of an intelligence trss
in addition would be , positive Inpudence,
and vet It might serve - Z valuable check
on some Of the claims put forward Tor some
of tl4e candidates II a soldier has to prove
that he il physically and mentally sound
whv not Presidential candidate
st any rate, Senator P0indeyter's
friends, while by no means failing 70 point
out his prr-emincnt mental gifts, think L
worth while To mention also that be : SIX
feet tvo inches tall, and a powerful man.
who. Ike Roosevelt. s devoted TO the m
vigorating outdoor life lie IS , hunter
and fisherman and be likes TO box and be-
lieves in exhibition boxing. He u also a
mighty walker. It Is recorded that he
walks twice j day the three miles between
his home In Washington and the capitol.
u hich IS not only good exercise, out u 4
city with street car system Ike that OF
Washington, good sense.
EVOLVES IDEAS ON HIKES.
And the Senator. not content with this
! "a ks,h
told. beating il for the open country on
foot. there to thrash oat problems u
tate as he strides along He IS reputed 10
find walking an excellent mental stimulus,
aud to evolve most OF his ideas while on
the hike All Of this pedestrianism AMI
sport naturally contribute 70 keep hlm IN
tie punk Of physical condition, and It Is
emphas .zed that whatever else nc might
do Is a President, he would not he II
danger OF breaking down At 8 critical
moment
senator Poindexter has not only an
nouneed his own candidacy. but has ~rl1-
ten his own platform as Vel. And this
platform has unique touch u that It
contaIus a statement OF the candIdatc
philosophy Of life "Thess Is no royal ROAD
10 happiness, he opInes IN the last para
graph, either III governmental or IN
personal affairs. Success must come irC u
struggle and eternal vigilance,
For the rest, he makes clear his opinions
upon a good many OF the questions oI the
day I'll. 4.atement Is not very complete,
but he has spoken more OF his mind than
any other candidate SO tar, except Alr
BRYAN. who says h. Is not a candidate, but
l. known To be a potential one, and who
has outlined a complete scheme Tor the
rehabilitation OF the republic.
Mr.. PolndeNtcr makes II clear IN dlp!o-
matte language that has attitude toward
Mexico Is one which Carranza would find
it hard to appreciate lie believes that
every necessary agency oi the govern
meut should be used TO give compleia
protection To the lives and lawful rights
II American citizens III MeN,co. Is may
fairly he deduced that var with Mexico
would be one result o the election ot the
senator. provided hc could get Congress
and The people - back hlm III
He likewise takes an nncompromlslu.
attitude toward the reds, aud the back
Russia movement would doubtless
derive a new mp tus from his success
lie Is not IN sympathy with the effort %
labor 10 gam Is legislative ends by striking
aud iobbying, and b. is clearly not making
bid for tho labor vote
Another point upon which he makes
himself clear IS the part Of the Oatcd
States IN world affairs lie stands for
the return t. ISOLATION lie wants the
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