West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-12-30
The Next President

The Republicans OF 1860, who ther
claimed they had won over the Demo.
cratic party because the latter loved
the country less" are again arrayed
In 1915 against the Democratic party
but this time because the latter "loves
the country more"
At that game the Republicans mr.,
going TO lose,
IL is all very easy to beat Wilson.
OF course; but II isn't as yet so very
plain Just how easy Il is going 10 be
We note that their national commit.
tee has given out sort OF nebulous
mint as TO campaign issues" the sub
stance OF which reveals the paucity OF
pleas on. which the Republican party
VIII have To take the field. The sum
OF its pretenee OF complaining is that
the Democrats have not gone far
enough" for the emergent needs OF the
present crisis--in fact, the peurile as
sertion Ia set up that the Democrats
did not so about their plan OF national
preparedness until the pressure OF
present conditions! Which is true. of
course. There was no. need. no de-
tensible excuse. until there was pres-
sure OF need and excuse On such an
Issue" the Republicans would blow
up
The Republican committee also pre-
tends that its concrete arraignment of
TINS administration is going to be
'that IL has not gone far enough" I'm
asserting the nations rights and de-
mands. Well, the Wilson administra-
ton has advanced to the very last
inch of limit short OF open war-and
that is as far as the constitution
permits a President to 20. II the Re
publicans would go further-which
they wouldn't, on your llfe-they
would have 10 declare war.
But all this is simon pure bun-
combe.
The situation with the Republicans
Is that they have neither n nail to
hang on to nor a rail to stand uponl
They have neither platform nor candi-
date. AS the party must, neverthe-
less, make a campaign or take TO the
woods, II will have actually to manu-
facture both. The robust anti-Ameri-
can yote--the hyphenated ballot which
has brazenly threatened Mr.. Wilson
with fgnoble defeat-hangs like n
tempting bauble to the Republicans;
out they dare not pluck IL. Did they
toady to this element, they would have
to publicly champion the Kaiserism il
typifes and prescribes for Americai
And 1t would prove to be the sourest
and deadliest grape that ever fell to
depraved political gluttony.
AS for formidable" candidates, the
Republican calendar is barren
blank. They are trotting few i'm
possibilities around the track to amuse
the early auditors in the grandstand.
See Weeks OF Massachusetts for in
stance, cavorting out there as n can
didate. In all the forty years when
nomination meant election, the Repub-
licans never put up a Massachusetts
man for President. They never in
tended that the tail should wag the
dog. Away back yonder they made
Henry Wilson Vice President. He had
been shoe-pegger that had wone his
way to distinction. TIE Republicans
labeled him "The Natick Cobbler" TO
catch that vote. Weeks might get the
nomination for Vice President, which.
In success, is congestive chill to a
public mans future, and in defeat, his
political burial.
And yet at this hour, Weeks is the
most available candidate for the head
of the Republican party's next mem
orial tablet.-Clarksbur Exponent.