The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1916-10-20
HUGHES
ANSWERS
M'ADOO
Says Lusitania Would Not
Have Been Sunk If He
Had Been President

Youngstown, O., Oct. 20.-In his
speech here last night Chas: E. Hughes
said: THE president Of the United
States is the trustee of executive
power. Placed in control Of our agen-
cies Of international intercourse, he is
the guardian OF the rights OF the
American citizens. He has no author
ity to surrender them. no right to
impair them. Upon his f1rmness in
maintaining that depends our security
and our peace which the Democratic
platform four years ago promised
that the constitutionalist rights Of
American citizens should protect them
throughout the world. When it prom
ised full protection for American lives
and property abroad, it stated an
established American principle.
"One Of Americas greatest jurists
speaking for the supreme court of the
United States said many years ago
another privilege of citizen of the
and protection of the federal govern
ment over his life, liberty and proper
ty when on the high seas or within
the jurisdiction of a foreign govern
ment. Now. we are told that the ad-
ministration has turned it's back on
the American doctrine of full protec-
tion. That is what it's leading apollo
mean. It is a reversal without author
ity and in violation Of the specific
pledge upon which it was elected In
stead Of following it's clear line of
duty, it engaged in a personal vindic-
tive war, leaving the lives and prop
erty Of our citizens to pe destroyed.
This deplorable course lowered our
| international prestige. When the ad-
ministratlon did speak for American
rights it's words were not taken SER
\ iously. 1t had made it's reputation.
"As a result we have destruction of
American lives and property and in
reference with American commerce
which could have been prevented. The
executive has many resources at his
known rights without war.
Recently, we have had illuminating
utterances from two of the most i'm
portant of the spokesmen Of the ad-
ministration-two cabinet ministers.
The secretary Of the treasury finds
fault with my answer to the question
put to me the other night at Louis
vile about the sinking of the Lusi-
tania. He says that did not say what
/ would have, done after the sinking
You may recall that stated specific
ally the position would have taken In
advance, and the notice / would have
given OF the action should take and
! added that with this position un-
equivocally stated in advance, and
backed by a convincing administration
record, the ship would not have been
sunk.
Now rises the secretary of the
treasury to complain that this was not
a statement of what would have done
had nevertheless the sinking occurred
But. was under the impression that
when said what would have stated
in advance as to what 1 would do,
every one would know that stated
what in fact I would have done In the
described event. The secretary's re-
mark shows in an illuminating way
this administrators conception Of the
statute Of words. 1t apparently seems
/ impossible to this administration that
one can mean what he says:
That is it's difficulty. With 1t a
threat of action does not seem to mean
anything but words. My position is
somewhat different. mean what