Morris tribune., 1920-07-16
BY e. F. CLIPsoN.

America, ever reSOurceful and willing
to try anything once, has shown the
spirit of true democracy by going to
various professions for it's presidents.
The first one was a civil engineer. and
since his time the White House has
been occupied by lawyers, diplomats,
professional politicians, O planter, SOL
d1ers, tailor, two college presidents,
one of whom also preached little, and
the other Of whom practiced law a lit
tie, and several others who at various
times in their careers were identified
with trail blazing, farming, legislating
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. ~s.,at. t:ssz.s5:s,rs, u, ere. ,7,-.~e,--
Barring accidents or the totally IN
expected, either Editor Harding or Ed
itor Cox will sit in the presidential
chair March 4, 1921. The consensus of
opinion gathered from public express
siOns and the news of the day, is that
it is an experiment worth trying. No
very pronounced evidences of worship
for either candidate seem manifest as
yet in the great body of the electorate.
but that is a condition in keeping with
the editorial personality and may cas-
fly 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 a somewhat submerged
voluntarily submerged - personality.
He has been most potent leader and
director in his quiet way, but 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 more ideal in the general
newspaper creed than Cincinnatus
leading armies.
Now the editor gets in front of in
stead of behind the calcium's bright
glare. The public will, metaphorfcally,
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 charging upon the
nobility of the editorial calling and the
self-sacrifcing qualities which it en-,
tails. Already the halOS are in the
molds and before November it is safe to
assert, both candidates will be heroes
to their respective followers, although
at present they are just level-headed
representative citizens, with consider
able edge in ability over the average
The exaltation will extend, in some
degree, to the whole newspaper prOfes
sion, and some there are who think
this will not be a good thing. Any
way, after next March the people viii
have an opportunity to see how an edi
tor, who never fails to tell how the
country should be run, will run it him
self.
The aftermath of the Democratic
convention has not been greatly dis
similar to that Of the Republican con
clave. The bulk of party sentiment
with the exception Of the natural,
disgruntled, seems inclined to abide b,
Governor Cox, just as the bulk Of Re
publican sentiment abides by Senate
Harding. Bean spillers have been az
tive in both parties and Nicholas Mu1
ray Butler, in his attacks on the force
Of corruption, did not say any more
indeed not as much, as William Jer
nings Bryan, in t-conventiOn utter
ances, has said along the same strair