Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-26
BEFORE OR AFTER?

From now on to the end Of twelve
months. polls made and straw votes
taken by publishers will probably be
a feature Of interest in the political
situation. Already Golfers Weekly
has begun a canvass of its readers
respecting their choice for President.
The first week replies were OBJ
tained from 1874 people. OF the
candidates mentioned Henry Ford is
in the lead with 5547 votes and
President Harding second with 446o.
Governor Smith Of New Yol-> re-
ceived the approval Of 996, Senator
Borah Of 2s7, and Woodrow Wilson
245. -: -.----.
The showing gives rise to many
questions if one take the vote seri-
ously, which one scarcely may wisely
do. Opinion has not had time to
crystallize; 1t is. not yet tested by the
fires Of a campaign. Ford's agencies
throughout the country are numerous
and no salesman Of the Ford products
will imagine for a moment that the
discussion Of Henry Ford as posi-
BILE candidate for the presidency will
be in the least detrimental to the sale
OF those products. In a sense the
situation makes Of the many thous-
ands Of such agents Ford boosters.
and this without requiring any word
from headquarters.
It Is noted that PENNSYLVANIA and
Connecticut show the greatest prefer
ence for Harding, who also receives
in the State Of New York a vote al
most equal to that Of the combined
Democratic candidates, but in Cali
fornia Ford's vote nearly equals that
or Harding and Johnson together. In
the South Ford is strong, but who
supposes the Democrats down there
would vote for him at election unless
ne should happen to be the nominee
OF the Democratic party?
Commenting on the strength shown
oy Ford Golfers has this to say:
"Ordinarily. when we want a lob
0ono we are accustomed to 20 to
some one who is trained in that par.
tlcular line Of work. II we suddenly
turn around and purposly select
someone who is VIGOROUSLY unframed
IN that particular line it signifies
much. But what? Does it signify
that we are losing our mind? or
does it signify that we are getting
wise?"
Undoubtedly it signifies several
things among which we would not
expect at first to find wisdom. First
and foremost it fairly may be termed
the response Of a primitive instinct.
The first king is said to have been a
soldier. a conqueror, who promised to
conquer the foes Of the people and
endow his subjects with the spoils
and glories Of war. Mighty was tho
appeal such a parsonage could make,
especially II they recognized in him
one Of themselves.
Henry Ford is a conqueror. The
spoils of his struggles include the ia
cilities for Harvesting the service Of
the gas engine in the fivver and the
the means of the multitude. The
achievements Of Alexander the Great
were not more notable-and Alexan-
der was poor ruler, though a despot
In his realm as Henry Ford is in the
fivver realm. He also is sprung from
the people, has worked with his
hands, and as q representative Of the
possibilities for those who work with
both head and hands he is an ap-
pealing figure in this day and gener-
alton. What wonder the impulse
among the thousands is to applaud
his candidacy-andw whatever may be
said Henry Ford is virtually a can.
didate for the presidency Of the Unit
ed States. He has the ambition, the
money and right now the applause
which naturally will please his ears
and will not lessen his ambition, II
that were possible.
But the peoples ideas OF this gov
eminent ard ideas of a republic, not
an absolute monarchy. Henry Ford
makes the laws under which he rules
his business. he tolerates no ques-
tioning, his dictum is absolute. He
neither knows nor wishes to know Of
any other method. He has rid him
self Of all associates in business, his
will must be supreme, his judgement
must not be diluted with advice from
others, he would not If he could con-
fiAe his power within certain limits.
it. must be absolute.
DO the people Of this country wish
have 1t ruled under the law?
ould they have the law overridden
Id despotism, even benevolent des-
potism-if there be any such-put in
its place? President Harding ex-
presses the conviction that the people,
after all that is said, are committed to
the fundamentals Of democracy
These things being so they do not
want Henry Ford for a ruler. They
will realize this either before or after.
Lot VI hope that it will be before.