Show t 1 Is Henry F Ford rd a Candidate tl I Tn THE that petitions for tor the nomination of ot Henry Ford Foard for tor President President Pre Pre- were filed flied In eight states In the west recently centers the attention ol ot the country upon what his hla attitude really Is la regarding the nomination The filing of ot the petitions looks as Ithe it If ithe he is n the field Held in earnest but as asyet asyet asyet yet he has made no personal announcement announcement announcement an an- nor has haa any anyone one else announced with authority that Mr Ford ord seeks Beeks to be a candidate for tor the highest office In the land The fact tact that his position is unknown creates cre- cre otes ates an element of ot uncertainty in the situation that is causing much worry to politicians who have been accustomed accustomed tomed to arranging things before before- hand If It Mr Ford were outspoken in his ambition to be nominated at atthe atthe atthe the next national convention there would not be so much anxiety in some quarters It is the quiet underground underground underground under under- ground propaganda evidently spread ing lug silently all over the country among the people who are not politicians poll pelt and not partisans that alarm the lenders It is impossible to measure measure measure mea mea- mea mea- sure the tte strength of the Ford candidacy candidacy candidacy candi candi- dacy by any rules known in politics It is elusive and meanwhile Henry Ford says not a word lIe He does not even have any known organization unless uLless the men who sell use and his cars might be said salt to be an an The fact tact that these eight petitions have been filed flied shows however however how how- ever that work Is la being done in his behalf half How many delegates will Henry Ford FIrd have bave in the convention That is what puzzles the political leaders They dont don't know and have no means of finding pu put Fords Ford's friends are scattered and yet in fn the final showdown showdown showdown show show- down they may be numerous enough to surprise and embarrass the political political cal leaders It has bas been said that the wet and dry issue will cause more trouble in Inthe the he nomination of a candidate next year than any other question But Henry lenry nry Fords Ford's candidacy if it he Is a candidate will raise other questions which some people regard as Infinitely Infinite Infinite- I ly Iy y more Important and which others will view with undisguised alarm He fie is the political sphinx of 1924 mm |