The Detroit times., 1914-10-23
PRESIDENT IS
GIVEN PRAISE
BY PRENDERCAST
Lauded for Cautious and Digni-
fed Course Relative to War
Situation
WILSON'S PARTY, THOUGH,
GIVEN WALLOPING
Speaker Attacks Tariff Law and
Urges Return of Bull Moose
,..,,a.- To G. o. p.

William A. Prendergast. former con-
troller OF New York city, and the man
who placed Theodore Roosevelt In
nomiLauon IN the Chicago Bull Moose
convention OF 1912. addressing q crowd
OF =, 900 In the Light unard armory.
Thursday night, declared that the
question OF supreme importance In the
1914 campaigns Is the return or Re-
publican majority In congress. AS a
means TO this end he urged his former
political co-workers. the Progressives.
to return to the Republican fold.
Mr.. Prendergast arraigned the Dem
ocrats for the enactment OF tarin
law which, he contends. has both par
alyzed American business and failed
to reduce the cost Sf the necessities
of life. He quoted figures as to i'm
ports and exports since the Dem
ocratic tariff law went into effect In
the attempt to prove his point
Speaking of his connection with the
Progressive party and subsequent re-
turn TO the Republican fold. Mr.. Prem
dergast said:
''1n appealing to these who. like my
self. broke away from the old leaders
two years ago, I want them seriously
to consider whether those things for
which we fought then. those things
for which we battled side by side. are
OF such vital importance as to be wor-
thy Of the sacrifice of the high princi-
pies Of protection OF American indus
try for which the Republican party
has always stood. want them Sc
rfously to consider whether those
things are important enough to war
want the keeping alive of third
party, which never was and never
can be strong enough to do anything
more than to give assurance Of con-
tinued Democratic successes"
Mr.. Prendergast made an especial
plea for the election of Charles A.
Nichols and Charles z. McCarty as
members Of congress from the two
districts OF Detroit
THE scope OF the present campaign
is almost entirely national" said Mr..
Prendergast- There are a few I'M
portant state elections. but public In
terest in the main largely concerns
itself with the political complexion OF
the next congress- When we speak
Of public opinion II Is with the under
standing that only moderate share
Of public interest Is being manifested
In domestic politics, because on all
sides the great theater Of public and
private thought Is the tremendous con-
test now being fought out In Europe.
The gravity OF this conflict has over.
shadowed all other questions. and the
concentration Of public opinion upon
Il Is depriving our own national needs
OF the attention uhIch they deserve.
The European war 10 being used
by the Democratic party as an excuse
for not discussing its record since II
went into power. We are told that
the real issue is to uphold the presi-
dent
'1t is true that in his capacity as
the head OF q great neutral nation the
president OF the United States has a
delicate and difficult task to perform.
I would not subtract a particle from
the general feeling of appreciation
with which the people as whole have
regarded the cautious aid dignifed
manner In which the president has
conducted our international relations