Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-17

is q hunter and fisherman. and he
likes to box and believes in exhibit
ton boxing. H is also q mighty
walker. It is recorded that he
walks twice day the three miles
between his home in Washington
and the capitol. which il not only
good exercise, but in . city with ,
street car system like that OF
Washington, good sense.
And the senator, not content with
this six miles a day, is often to be
seen, we are told, beating it for the
open country on foot, there to
thresh out problems Of state as he
strides along. He is reputed to
find walking an excellent mental
stimulus and to evolve most Of his
ideas while on the hike. All OF this
pedestrianism and sport naturally
contribute to keep him in the pink
of physical condition, and it is en-
phasized that whatever else he
might do as a president, he would
not be in danger of breaking down
at a critical moment.
Senator Poindexter has not only
announced his own candidacy, but
has written his own platform as
well. And this platform has a
unique touch in that 1t contains a
statement OF the candidates philos-
ophy of life. There is no royal
road to happiness" he opines in the
last paragraph, either in govern
mental or in personal affairs. Sue.
cess must come from struggle and
eternal vigilance"
For the rest, he makes clear his
opinions upon a good many of the
questions of the day. His state
ment is not very complete, but he
has spoken more Of his mind than
any other candidate SO far, except
Mr.. Bryan, who says he is not a
candidate, but is known to be a po-
tential one, and who has outlined
complete scheme for the rehabilita-
ton of the republic.
Mr.. Poindexter makes it clear In
diplomatic language that his atti-
tude toward Mexico is one which
Carranza would find it hard to ap-
preciate. He believes that EVERY
necessary agency Of the govern
ment should be used to give com
plete protection to the lives and
! lawful rights of American citizens
in Mexico" 1t may fairly be de-
duced that a war with Mexico
would be one result of the election
Of the senator, provided he could
get congress and the people to bach
him up.
He likewise takes an uncompro
missing attitude toward the reds
and the back-to- Russia movement
would doubtless derive a new i'm
petus from his success. He is no
in sympathy with the effort of labol
to gain its legislative ends by strik
ing and lobbying, and he is clearl!
not making bid for the labor vote
| Another point upon which h,
makes himself clear is the part o
the United States in world affairs
He stands for the return to isola
1ation. He wants the peace treat.
passed, but stripped of its encum
brances," and he does not believ'
in accepting any mandates, or il
keeping American troops in -Sibe
ria, Turkey, Germany OF anywher,
else, except, presumably at hom,
and in Mexico.
On the constructive side, Mr.
| Poindexter's statement is not s.
complete. He does not say wha
he would do about the railroads
for example, and we cannot fin,
any specific mention of the higl
cost of living in his preliminar,
statement. He says that he woul,
use surplus revenues Sin a liberia
! extension of land reclamation" blu
he does not say how this reclama
ton would be conducted, or upol
what terms he would make the re
claimed lands available to citizens
He says that neither capital no
labor should be allowed to Dos
the country, but he does not pro
pose any new working arrangement
among these two elements and tn
public. These commissions viii
doubtless be repaired by Mr.. Poin
dexter in the course of his cam
paign for the Republican nomina
ton. Meantime his statement !
frank and courageous as far as
goes, and makes it pretty clea
where he stands.