Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-08-11
81 WRITER'S PUT IT UP TO MIR,
HUGHES.

| TIC IOlIOWluH ODcIl lcIIci DNCi
addressed to Mr.. Hughes, the Rcpub-
lican candidate for President by 81
of the leading writers and newspa-
per editors of the United States:
"To the Honorable Charles E.
Hughes: The professional writers
who sign this letter have small inter-
est in parties, but very deep interest
i'm democracy. 1t is our hope, through
this voluntary association, to assist in
the promotion of honest, educational
discussion i'm order that fundamental
issues may not be decided in preju
diccs and ignorance.
"Mr. Wilson's beliefs have been ex-
pressed in law and in declared poll
cies. He has made an open record by
which he may be judged. Wise
choice is not possible unless you
yourself make equally specific state
ment of purposes and convictions.
"Without intent to offend, we feel
justified in charging that in no sin
gle public utterance have you filed
bona lidc bill Of particulars nor have
you offered Il single constructive sug-
gcStion.
Demand Details.
Personalities are without value.
Blanket criticism is worthless. What
we desire TO know, what it is fair
! that the electorate should know, are
the exact details of your disagreement
with President Wilson. What has he
done that you would not have done,
and what has he failed to do that you
would have done or will do? Hon
esty and patriotism demand that you
put yourself upon record in such
manner as to permit people to judge
you as they are now able to judge
President Wilson. For example
"Would you have filed instant pro-
test against the invasion of Belgium
and backed up that protest with the
United States navy?
1T is arrant nonsense TO talk about
action that would have prevented the
Lustania tragedy. The vague ad-
vertiscmcnt did not appear until
shortly before the hour of sailing.
The occurrence was one of those
things that civilization has made the
world regard as incredible The only
honest question to this: Would you
have made the disaster the subject
of diplomatic negotiations or would
you have broken relations with Ger
many at once?
Would you have urged upon Con-
grcss an embargo upon shipment of
munitions to the allies?
Would you urge universal COM
pulsory military service?
"You are frank in stating that HUI
erta's morals were of no concern TO
America. Does this mean that YOU
would have recognized Huerta?
For or Against Intervention?
"As matters stand today, would
you be in favor of Intervening in
Mexico?
docs your attack upon the Wilson
Shipping bill mean that you are in
favor of ship subsidies?
you speak enthusiastically of the
fights Of the worker. Does this i'm
ply that you endorse the Clayton
Antitrust law and the Seamans
Bill? Or will you urge their repeal?
What are your specific complaints
against the Federal Reserve law?
GAS Governor of New York you op,
posed the income tax amendment.
Does this antagonism persist? Do
you or do you not believe in paying
for preparedness out of tax on in.
comes, inheritances and munitions?
eve agree with you that it is a
'critica! period by far too critical
indeed for candidates to talk in terms
OF ollice-secking rather than in the
simple earnest language of definite
| Americanism. Respectfully,
Samuel Hopkins Adams, Ray Stan
nard Baker, Ellis Parker Butler, l..
Ames Brown, Dante Barton, Irwin
! S. Cobb, Wadsworth Camp, j. O'Hara
Cosgravc, Stoughton Cooley, William
l.. Chenery, George Creel, James
Forbes, Frederick C. Howe, ellison
Gardner, Frederick Stuart Greene,
Oliver HEREFORD, Prof. Lewis johnson,
Richard Lloyd Jones, Peter B. Kyne,
Percy Mackaye, A. j. McKelway,
Bacil Nenley, Meredith Nicholson,
Albert Jay Mock, Harvey j. O'HIig-
gins, Charles Johnson Poe, Eugene
| Manlovc Rhodes, William Mcleod
Rame, Boardman Robinson, John
Reed. Opie Reed, Edgar Selwyn, vii
liam Levitt Stoddard, Lincoln Stef-
fins, Augustus Thomas, Frank Vroo-
man and Geor"e West.