Iditarod pioneer., 1916-06-17
THE CAMPAIGN IS ON

Ere this issue of The Pioneer reaches our readers the presidential campaign will have been fairly launched by the nomination by both great political part es of their candidates for President and Vice President At this writing there to be no doubt that Woodrow Wilson and Thomas Marshall will be the standard-bearers of Democracy and the Republicans last week placed Charles t. Hughes Iii no1ninaton for President and Charles W. Fairbanks for Vice President
 Regarding the candidates 1t may be sad that probably never have there been placed in nomna- ton for the high offices to which they aspire men of higher motives or broader conception of pubic duty than these No word of asperslon has ever been heard with reference to the personal character of any of the candidates Viewed from this stand point there IS nothing to choose. But this IS to be a campaign of principle, campaign wherein the very foundations of American institutions and Amer ican ideals easily may be put in issue. It IS time of much excitement The relations ot thls country with the warning nations of the old world are such that hatreds and animostes have arisen Tn the re- pubIic fostered by those who cannot or will not so far forget former allegiance to accept the neu- traIity policy of President Wilson, but are demand ing that the policy suggested by one or other of the beIigerents be substituted for it. How far this ques ton of neutrality Is to be injected into the campaign remains to be seen. If, as has been suggested, the opposition to President Wilson relies to any extent upon dissatisfaction with his policies abroad, there can be but one outcome, and that will be that the citizens of the United States will stand solidy behind their chief executive without regard to party ties, The patriotic attitude of the President on this ques ton can have no igher recommendation than that it has been criticized by all the belligerents.
 As a candidate for President Charles E. Hughes cannot but be disappointment to the most ardent Republican. A man of great attalnments and re- served nature he seemed to be peculiarly htted tor the position on the bench of the greatest tribunal in the world which he has sacrificed to pursue the coveted presidency The fact that he allowed his name to be used by the politicians while still holding the position on the bench has been great shock to those who look with jealousy on even remote con- nection between the machinery of politics and the supreme court of the United States It may be said that this incident alone has at least not been the means of adding strength to his candidacy The fact that the country at large Is not conversant with the views of MT. Hughes on current problems of government also will act as handicap. How far, If at a the views which he may later give voice to will be dictated by conditions always will be prob- lemahca and in politics 1t IS not always the char itable view which prevails. Mir. Hug hes candidacy will be further handicapped by the reluctant state ment of Roosevelt that he will support him, after having worked with all the strenuousness of his ture to prevent his nomination. It will not be at all surprising if many of the followers of Roosevelt be moved to support Wilson rather than the Republican cardidate
 A man with Roosevelt's ability to arouse the en- thusiasm of the masses, but unhampered by the controversies which appear to be of the very life of that interesting national character might have stood chance to wrest the presidency from Mr. Wilson. A cold-blooded, matter of-fact statesman such as Mr. Hughes, lacking every requisite for popular idol, has not the remotest chance of election