The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-10-23
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER


NEW YORK.-Gen. George Marshall may
be unavailable because of his commitments
and his sense of loyalty and duty, but just on
the basis of personal merit can you think of
a more desirable successor to President
Roosevelt?
General Marshall is modest honest, fair,
digniiied and great executive of long expert
ence and, without being somber or morose
he has always been deeply serious about his
work. I have no idea what party he belongs
to, if any, but his character and past per-
formances preclude the thought that if he
were elected President he would favor radi-
Gals who have made up their minds that the
capitalistic system on which the American
way is founded has been proved failure
and should be strapped. Surely he would
have nothing to do with the communists or
their fellow-travelers and his dealings with
the men under his command some of whom,
probably, he does not like personally, do not
permit the thought that he would ever use
the power of the highest office to inflct spite
full personal punishment on any individual cit
izen whether by comforting an iron cross or
by harrassment under the income tax laws.
We may be sure also that even if some men,
Der of his family should desire to exploit
the presidency for private profit, whether di-
rectly or by subtle methods the General would
put his foot down and that in these and some
he would repair the dignity of the office and
command the respect even Of citizens who
might not always agree with him.
General Marshall was a protege, and re-
mains a devoted friend Of General Pershing
who undoubtedly takes great pride in the ad-
vancement and success of man who went
to France with the first division as a captain.
1t is not belittling Pershing, either to say
that he would not have made distinguished
Drac xr,ha chon IL
General Marshall is a more rounded man
and, whereas General Pershng withdrew and
called it full career after his war, the pres
ent chief of staff is still developing grow
ing at years and seems to have plenty
of margin over his job of managing one Of
the greatest armies in all history whose de-
velopment, it must be remembered, is largely
his doing. He certainly knows the world as
well as any other American, including the
President, and much better than Wendell Will
kie and I believe that, remembering General
Pershings stubborn and successful fight to
keep the American Army together in France,
he would not be tempted to give any other
nation any advantage in relations after the
war but would nevertheless try earnestly to
get along with the rest of the world. He is
without guile but not naive and can be as
hard as need be in circumstances calling for
determination. Nobody who knows him can
fancy his engaging in heckling or dangerous
repartee in international relations or any 9TH
er serious business of the presidency, and
am tempted to compare him with Washing
ton in his character and, of course, in his
patriotism. You just can't picture him with
a Tommy -the-Cork for house pet.
1t has seemed to me that those who have
been talking up General Macarthur e
thought of him mainly a candidate, con-
siderng his possible strength at the polls
which believe is over-estimated, but haven't
thought him through four years in office. He
is stylish and eye-filling figure and a good
soldier but a little too temperamental and
personally ambitious. Of course General Mar
shall, too, is ambitious but he never was
pushful if you get the distinction He wears
his cap straight but General MacArthur's best
known picture rather intimates that he wants
his to look like plume. Call it personality if
you like, but whatever it is it is important.
Well, I suppose nothing will come of this
until 1948, at the earliest but there We have
in Washington one of the ablest men in the
country with many qualifications for the pres
idency and it would be a good idea to start
adding him up He CLOVIS with character and,
although he may never have given thought
to the presidency he has never yet found
{ job too big for him and wouldn't finch if
ne thought the country needed him.