Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-23
A Question of Opinion.


The Bee expresses the opinion that the movement
to get Mr.. Hughes the Nebraska preferential pri
mary ballot as a candidate Tor president IL an unwlsc
one and 'Il advised from every point Of view" That
goes further and declares Justice Hughes
cannot afford 10 permit any coterie OF political self
seekers 20 him to pull themselves Up by the boot
straps, though The Bee at the time admits Jus
tice Hughes would be AN ideal candidate" and II
nominated his victory Wilson would be fore
ordained"
The Tribune fails to take the view Of The Bee in
particulars IL does not feel warranted for in
stance in designating the forty-five prominent Ne
braskans OF all shades Of republicansm who aligned
the Hughes petition being self-seekers The facts
do Justify that Neither believe. from such
information can get that Il Is wholly beyond hope
to get Mr. Hughes 20 acauesce in the procedure 10
get him to stand for nomination
Furthermore the presidential primary plan adopted
in Nebraska is for the purpose OF affordng the people
OF this state opportunity TO their presidential
preferences IL the republicans Of Nebraska for
Hughes As believe them to be by a large prepon-
derating majority, why should they not express
themselves, whether Mr. Hughes endorses II not?
Even The Bee gives voice TO the hope that It may
come TO PASS that at some point In the baoting by
tho national convention sentiment will swing around
to Hughes. In that event Nebraska will be the nu-
cleus OF his boom. II II doesn't swing to him. what
difference does IL make TO Nebraska7 II Nebraska
republicans want TO vote for Washington Lincoln &
Is their privilege regardless OF what the national
ventlon does That certainly wouldn't be properly
called "seifseeking"; IL would merely be giving OPP
portunity for expression Of the popular will The self
to jump.-Fremont Tribune.
While conceding every one a right to his
opinion, The Bee also insists upon preserving its
right OF opinion and in this instance our opinion
is the one that seems to have the support of sub
sequent events. Even Brother Hammond will
now have to confess disappointment in his hope
20 get Mr.. Hughes TO acquiesce in the procedure
to get him to stand for a nomination" which we
saw was foredoomed from the outset
AS to what constitutes self seeker the
phrase explains itself. but actions speak louder
than words. Why forty-five names secretly and
stealthily signed to petition should be filed to
voice popular demand bellies the avowal OF pur-
pose. A sincere desire to impress Justice Hughes
with the unanimity OF the call would not have
gone about II in this way; instead Of an exclusive
self-chosen few an invitation would have been
issued asking everyone favoring the desired can
didate either to meet and adopt a resolution ask
ing him TO run, or to join in a monster petition
signed not by forty-five, but by $500. or prefer
ably $4,000. although existing conditions might
still have made II impossible for Justice Hughes
10 accede.
Where the Hughes Transcription" movement
miscarried was In It's collision with our presiden-
tial primary law, which proceeds on the theory
that only such candidates for office or prefer
ment shall have their names on the ballot as are
avowedly running for the office. This law fur
Their contemplates a popular instruction upon
the convention delegates, and the choice OF dele
gates who will in good faith carry out the in
struction. Brother Hammond suggests that 'ff
Nebraska republicans want to vote for Washing
ton or Lincoln IL is their privilege" but for any
handful Of men TO file the name OF Washington
or Lincoln merely TO use the popularity OF their
names for self-aggrandizement, would be maxi
ing farce OF the whole direct primary principle.
Such self-seeking would be self-evident, but only
little more self-evldent than the other example.