The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-09-15
Ripe Judgment

Ripe Judgment
General John J. Pershing, observing his seventeen
birthday, thanks his lucky stars that he has remained a
soldier and has never got into politics.
Still mentally and physically vigorous, General Persn-
ing speaks with the weight of three score and ten years
upon him when he discusses the subject Of politics and
its relation to the individual.
A press dispatch quotes the warrior as saying: I
have watched what happens to holders OF high pohtlcai
office. / have seen their every word distorted and twist
ed to find some hidden meaning. I have seen their pour
ical supporters picture them as ~prodigies OF wisdom
and craftsmanship while their opponents at the same
time set them out as stupid scoundrels. And I have
known them. and know that they were neither the one
nor the other, just average Americans"
There is q world Of common sense as well as . wealth
of observation In those sentences, particularly the last
one. It is a message from q real American ringing loud
in the wilderness Of bunk and blather which is American
politics. Few Americans have had the privilege TO walk
with kings" which has been accorded to Pershing. Twelve
years ago he was as powerful as any modern king and
some Of those kings who stNl sat upon their thrones
placed their hopes in Pershing and those millions Of 9TH
er Americans who went forth to war. And yet, the aver
age American will agree with the generals statement
that holders Of high public offices are, after all. just
average Americans. II they were anything else they
could not obtain high public office.
The presidency is the highest political office in Amer
lea and the most important in the world, 80 that our
presidents may be taken as outstanding examples. The
last four will serve. Each was q product OF his times
Wilson was . college professor and q student. He was
q good professor and q good student but there were hun
dreds who were Just as good as he was. He was q per-
sonality, too, and there, II anywhere, was his only super
ortty to some others in his own line Of work. Wilson's
supporters pictured him as one Of the greatest OF the
great. His enemies pictured him as an impractical
dreamer and theortst. II not an actual scoundrel, as
General Pershing suggests. But any Ut US may make
some claims to greatness in our own sphere and all Of US
have our dreams. Wilson, while an unusual man, might
well qualify as an average American.
Harding followed him into the white house. He, too.
was just an average American. His history has been
raked, perhaps too much, and even the breath Of scandal
has attached tc him. II the truth were known the breath
Of scandal might attach to q great many others and
would SO attach itself II they held q position in the white
glare of publicity such as the presidency. Harding. too,
qualities as an average American.
Coolidge, a little grim and silent, personally and pub
licly thrifty, is still another type. The product of an
environment such as few Of us out here on the prairies
can envision, he was true to himself and the ideas which
had been inculcated in his blood through generations.
It takes no flight Of fancy to qualify him as an average
American.
In the campaign Of 1928 we heard much Of the genius
Oh II QICSclt pICC1OCAy N1A. AZ AID SUppV4 Gao
he was the alpha and omega of knowledge and Of all
that was desirable. He was hailed by one side as the
greatest constructive genius Of the ages. Some of his
opponents even limited that he was, at heart, pro-British
rather than American.
At this ~juncture, the president is being both praised
and condemned. The ~laudations come from those who
would gain by presidential favor or by continuance Of
Mr.. Hoover and his political party in power. The con-
formations come from those who have deeply dis
->.-> = -. ~~>~SA~~ks >kS> - q. 49, H>>v kA><
II he were unseated, they or their friends or their polit-
ical group would have q chance to ascend to the seat
Of the mighty.
But laying all this aside, it seems fair to state that
Mr.. Hoover, like his three predecessors, is another aver
age American.
The four men mentioned were all Of distinctly differ
ent types-but 50 Is the average American . man Of many
different types. Your neighbor may be as studious a
Wilson, as open-handed as Harding. ~ parsimonious -
Coolidge or as matter-of-fact as Hoover. He cannot be
al four at cnce. And yet, your neishbor. whether you
happen to like him or not probably Is Just another aver
age American.
preme court Judges. mayors. sheriffs. Justices Of the
peace. baiuffs. and other holders Of public office.
II they weren't average Americans they couldn't be
elected to office. We have no real genius In public life
because public life Isn't the place for 1t. II Is the prov.
ince Of genius to be different from other persons. Gen.
Jus Is rarely understood and almost never understand.
Ing. The man who wins the favor OF an electorate must
Be both.
When one hears the holder of . public office praised
10 the skies or condemned to the depths there always ID
: reason for the attitude expressed. And in most casea
the reason isn't difficult to find.
SO General ~rershings Judgment must be considered
boupG ~ indicates the ripeness Of his 10 active years.
A Liability Once More