New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-11

about for victims and alibis. There are
two lust At present upon which the
burden OF blame is falling. One may
be termed a victim, the other an alibl'
The first is Frank II. hitchcocS' the
second is California.
These two. OF course, are not the
only ones. II would take many inches
Of precious white paper TO cover the
feld adequately. For instance. some
OF these:
Why did Frank Hitchcock, frequent
T. acclaimed master politician ana
often "the King OF the West fail 10
land the West IN the electoral column
OF Charles +. Hughes?
Why did Hughes go to California
before the California primaries
WHY didn't Colonel Roosevelt go TO
California to Offset the Hughes-John-
son muddle?
Why the women's campaign train?
Why should there be any doubt
about such old-line Republican states
as Utah. Kansas. Minnesota. Ne"
' hampshire and North Dakota?
And why were a lot Of other things
done and left undone?
"Old Guards" Verdict
The verdict Of the so-called "old
guard on most Of these matters Is
that if things had been left 10 them
Woodrow Wilson might not have been
reelected Some Of them are calling
The whole campaign, except the par'
thcv PLAYED. amateurish. Others 80
.tll further and strike their own and
everybody else's breast, saying: "Weil,
rr beat ourselves
The Republican managers are no. YET
prepared 20 admit defeat, but privately
many Of them believe II is hopeless TO
bank ON d better showing for Hughes
on an official canvass or recount. Up
10 n o'clock Thursday night the sltua-
zion war hopeful but when the Wilson
lead In California began TO soar above
1000 and was maintained steadily at
that ratio 10 was agreed that nothing
could be done toward recount proceed
.ngs until the state leaders reported
ana the official canvassers made their
returns.
George ". Wickcrsham, Chairman
Wilcox and one or two lesser lights
differ on this question from Mr..
Hughes. George ". Perkins and Frank
Hitchcock. and Mr. Hughes's view will
undoubtedly prevail. He is perfectly
filing 20 stand pat until the official
count is recorded. In fact. he considers
IL an OBLIGATION to the millions Of
voters who cast their ballots TO- him
not 20 pas, up the fight until II Is GER
tain that the fight is lost. He knows
what is required of a defeated candi-
date tho -ongratulatory telegram and
all that bat he does not yet concede
re IS defeated.
70 Keep the Fight Clean
Those who counsel waiting, as Mr..
Hughes doe =. have no intention of turn
.ng the campaign into turmoil OF
bitterness. Of protracting the election
.cyond a reasonable time or of casting
aay cloud Of uncertainty if the official
count confirms the unofficial figures.
This has been a clean fight and II
viii be a clean fight right through the
finish That is the Hughes stand. And
when a week or ten days hence the Off
cial verdict is rendered, the Repub-
Leans will act the gentlemans par.
That is all there is TO the situation
now.
This. however does not prevent the
insiders from INDUCING INF their own
inside aftermath and that comes back
10 Frank Hitchcock and California in
particular. The bitterness that has
existed for many years between the So
called "old guard" and Hitchcock has
not passed. IL is more intense. And,
on the other hand. while Hitchcock is
being criticised by some he also has
his little to say about that some. 1t is
give-and-take proposition. Briefly 1t
looks like this:
Hitchcock put it over" the oldtim-
crs al the Chicago convention when his
crowd Of Hughes delegates grew to
such proportions that everybody had
TO take Hughes. Then Hitchcock's po-
litical enemies succeeded in sidetrack-
ing him. William X. Wilcox got the
national craftsmanship, and all pre-
tended 10 be happy and satisfied. The
campaign started all right, but soon
Hitchcock was named on the campaign
committee. That let him in again, and
his increasing prominence irritated
Murray Crane, Reed Smoot, Boies Pen
rose and few more.
What Happened
The irritation did not halt Hitch
cock. He voluntarily assumed charge
Of certain Western states where he
was believed TO be king" The Repub-
lican managers counted on him TO
make certain such states as North Da-
kota, Minnesota, Kansas, Montana, Wy
oming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska
and others. Some, like Montana, Ari-
IONA and Nebraska. were mighty diff
cult. but the others were regarded as
needing only organization and work Of
the usual kind.
North Dakota is lowering in the
doubtful list, with Minnesota, Kansas
where about 10000 Republican plural
ity was expected, Montana, Arizona
and Wyoming lost to Wilson. So, some
Republican managers are asking them
selves, what happened?