New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
VIII SON A DODCER AND PROMISE BREAKER
Mr. Clifford Pncho Tells Why He Cannot Support President Who
During His Tenure of Office Has Proved Himself
Devoi of Sincerity, Courage Constancy.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Il is the duty Of every American citi-
zen to make and support openly his choice
among the candidates for the Presidency.
That duty is especially solemn this year be-
cause great events and great decisions are
certain TO confront us during the next Ad-
minstration. | am writing to give you my
reasons for my own choice. If you care to
lay them before your readers please do 80,
but not before Monday morning, Septem-
Der IL.
| am neither Democrat nor a Republican,
but Progressive. Yet, there being no Pro-
gressive nominee, unless | choose to support
a candidate who cannot be elected | must
vote for either Wilson or Hughes.
For many months after his inauguration
thought we'll Of President Wilson. In many
respects liked what he said about what ne
was going to do. He talked well and made a
good impression. 1t was only when | began
to check up what he said by what he did that
was forced to change my view.
In the end | came to that President
Wilson has a greater power than any other
man in public life to say one thing but do an
other, and get away with 1t.
The facts which justify this statement are
common knowledge.
We have all heard him tell Germany pub
licly that she would be held TO strict ac-
countability, and have learned afterward that
he had actually let her know secretly at the
time By the mouth of his Secretary of State
through the Austrian Ambassador, that what
he said he did not mean. We have all seen
him prove that he did not mean it by his
total failure to exact reparation, apology or
even dsavowal for the murder of Americans
on the Lusitania.
do not say that Wilson should have thrust
us into war. There was no need Of war. But
there was need of courage to give US peace
with self-respect If Wilson had shown cour-
age this country would not have skidded from
one crisis to the next, again and again mar
rowly escaping disaster.
We have all heard him declare against
Intervention in Mexico, while actually inter-
vening to dictate who should and who should
not hold Office there, and denounce war
against Mexico while actually engaged in war.
With war on every side of us, We all heard
him, in his second annual message, solemnly
assure the country that we had not been
negligent Of national defence. 1t was not
true; and later on he himself proved that it
was not true by proclaiming aloud the need
for what he had solemnly assured US we al
ready had.
For more than a year after the world war
began Wilson did not raise finger to put US
in condition Of defence. Only the proverbal
good luck of America has kept US from pay
ing the bitterest price for his unforgivable
neglect.
We have all heard him ridicule the idea of
a greater navy, then declare for incompar-
ably the greatest navy in the world, and then
go back on that.
We have all heard him declare for exempt
ing our coastwise trade from tolls in the
Panama Canal, and have seen him show our
own people and the English that he did not
mean it.
We have seen him elected on a platform
which pledged him to single term as Presi-
dent, and then become a candidate for an
other term.
We have all heard him declare for the con
servation of our natural resources, and have
seen him neglect that policy and refuse his
help to defeat the Shields waterpower bill.
the most dangerous attack on conservation
since Ballinger's effort 10 turn Alaska over to
the Guggenhems.
We have all heard him declare for efficiency
in government. and have seen him set tho
pork barrel first and throw efficiency away
have known official Washington from the in
side for six administrations. In that time the
government business has never been so badly
done and so e1travagantly as il is now done
under Wilson.
We have oil heard him announce himself as
the champion Of civil service refosm, and