Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-24
Dealing in Futures

Dealing in Futures
HE Times-Dispatch arises to second the
L. motion of the venerable Alexandria
Gazette that +. Lee Trinke be nominated
and elected President Of the United States
Tho Gazette will pardon the suggestion that
perhaps its nomination is just a trinc pre-
mature. 1t seems rather unkind to plunge
the Senator into campaign for the prcsi-
dcncy even before he has arrived at the
,hckest of the fray for the governorship
but doubtless the Gazette coming over the
stories OF the early bird" the first occu-
pant of the ground floor and other fables
that were popular hundred years ago when
il was in its childhood believed 1t the part
OF wisdom not to delay its nomination of
Senator Trinkle when it could make it to-
day just rs we'll rs later. when others might
have prc-cmpted the initial honors
The Gazette is actuatcd by a double mo-
two. FirSt-at least ii puts them in this
oroer-it seeks to retain for Virginia its
proud title Of Mother OF Presidents" now
threatened by Ohio. its child and all Vir-
ginians will agree with it that we must not
permit Virginia to he relegatcd to the do
main of mere grandmothcrship Secondly,
the Gazette secs in the Senator n man of
destiny" one who has arisen, like Wash
ington and most OF our Presidents, from
what it. emnlating Ring Lardncr has nick
named the "squirearchy," as distinguished
from the aristocracy, on one hand, and the
humblest stratum of society, on the other.
lie is, the Gazette opincs. Creature of
fate" one of the fayoritcs of certain in
visible forces beyond their ken or control"
Certainly the Gazcttc's enthusiasm is sup
ported by recorded events up to the present
The Senator was the man of destiny when
the ballots were counted on August 9 but
IA, ~ ,l,, :ln
forces urging him on to the governorship
We're successfully 'inyisible" they were not
beyond his ken or control" AS n matter
Of fact, his ken" was working smoothly
and his control was nothing short of per-
feet
While scconding the nomination. our
enthusiasm is even greater than that of
the Gazette, for as a preliminary founda-
ton for "Triaklc the President" il LAYS
DOWN that lie shall serve two terms as
Governor and reform the State govern
mcnt. We shall not question his ability
along the lines of reform, but why, if
the Gazette is sincere-and surely no one
Will suspect frivolity in one so agcd--dors
il insert the joker OF two terms? Does
the Gazette not know that il thereby bars
its favoritc son? Has il never taken time
during It's busy years To read the Consti-
tuition OF Virginia. which expressly limits
the Governor to one term? Surely it cannot
have overlooked that important inhibition
Then. why should it seek to hamstring its
candidate" by asking him TO do that which
tho Constitution says he shall not do But
following the popular modern custom of
waving the Constitution, why delay Senator
lrinklcs advent to the presidency for eight
years when the time will be ripe in four?
Personally. we prefer the earlier date and
laundering Republican administration is
making il highly desirable that Virginia
have its candidate groomcd and ready by
that time
And Virginia in an excess of modestv.
should not restrain itself TO one candidate
1t has ample material Let us take the Ga
Zcttes nomination seriously and make Gov
! crnor Trinklc our next President but still
dealing III futures, let us go further and
nominate Henry w. Anderson on the Re-
publican ticket in 1924 With the oypori-
cncc Senator Trinklc will have had in de-
l"nting Mr.. Anderson for the govcrnorship
Z this fall, il Will be all the easier for him Ia
I duplicate II ON the greater presidential scale
! Think OF the honor and prestige that will
! accrue to the Old Dominion in 1924 to bn
| able 10 claim as her sons both the success
| iul Democratic candidate for the presidency
! and the defeated Republican, thus REVERSING
! the Ohio order
stranger things than that have come &c
| pass.