Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-07
WILL HUGHES TURN
PROH|B|T|ON|ST?!
Rumored That He Is Listening
to Arguments by Nation
Widers."
EVEN THAT CHEERS LEADERS
They Realize That He Must
Find Some Affirmative
Policies.
EVEN THAT CHEERS LEADERS
Special to The Times-Dispa,ch.

have received the assurance from some
source that the candidates suffrage
pronouncemcnt a few days ago Is only
the beginning, and that before the
Western tour Is completed the candi-
date will have outlined long pro-
gram OF policies which he will cham
pion
This is cheering news to Republican
leaders, and they arc waiting with
anxiety for confirmation Of the reports
which have come from the party head
quarters in New York. These leaders
have been politically sick ever since
the hughes acceptance speech was de-
livered. They saw in II no hone of
victory. no clarion call TO which the
country might be expected TO respond.
CONFINED TO ASSAULT
on THE ADMINISTRATIONS
The trouble with this speech was that
il was confined to an assault upon tho
Democratic administration. 1t OBJ
viously was designed to destroy conf
dence in President Wilson. 1t was the
utterance of 4 wrecker. and not that OF
constructionist. BY it the candidate
sought to tear down the work OF the
past four years, but it gave the coun-
try no indication of Mr.. Hughess abil-
the one he tried to demolish.
Leading Republicans here and else
wher" realize the fact that Mr.. Hughes
,:aRnot win the coming fight on ba sis
Of destruction alone. He must he for
something and not against everything
lie must stand for certain fixed poll
cies. He must have a program of his
own. one that is more attractive than
that of his opponent. else his campaign
will lose all its strength. Without this
many Of his friends fear the campa ign
simply will collapse.
That is why most Republicans gave
a lusty shout when the candidate came
out boldly for a constitutional amend
ment granting suffrage to women
Thousands of Mr.. HuEhes's friends are
against such an amendment. They
would not listen to Its supporters at
the Chicago convention. and 1t was only
because OF the pressure OF political ex-
ped!ency that the Republican conven
uon went far enough to adopt tic
Democratic States rights declaration
on the suffrage question.
But the Hughes championship of tho
amendment indicated that he stood for
something. That was the important
thing. Republican campaieners did
not mind the fact that their candidate
had rcpudiatcd plank In their plat-
form twcnty-four hours after he had
loFniaily accepted the nomination. In
lheir JOY TO find him doing some af
hr'native talking. they were willing TO
fe' 'ne'r platform go 10 smash IL nee
csSary.
DO NOT KNOW WHAT
HE HAS Up HIS SLEEVE,
Just what the Republican nominee
may have up his sleeve along other af
iirmative lines remains to be seen
Ills friends do not appear TO know what
is TO come next. but they seem to be
certain that there will be some big
surprises for the country before the
HuShes's speaking bour is over. sur
prises. they are told, which will he
fully as interesting as that upon the
question of equal suffrage.
1t was mildly intimated to-day that
the candidate was being pressed to
come out for nationwide prohibition
and that he was actually listening to
the arguments in favor of such a de-
claration. These arguments. II Is said,
deal with the far-reaching possibilities
OF stand for an amendment to the
Constitution which would outlaw all
fife in intoxicating liquor in this
country
Many of these possibilities arc, of
course. apparent TO anybody. For in
stance. such a declaration as is limited
out. would do more to wipe out purely
partisan lines than any that might be
made by either candidate. If MIR.
Hughes were 10 come out for prohibi-
ton. he would attract 10 his standard
a tremendous following, which is not
now interested in his candidacy, but
1t would, at the same time. array
against him powerful forces which
have always been allied with the Re-
publican party.
But 1t is far too soon to speculate G
upon the results of prohibition dec
laration on the part OF the Repubii-
can nominee. lie may be giving only
polite attention TO the proponents Of
this policy without having the faint
est notion Of going far afield for
new issue. Besides. there is q straight
Prohibition party ticket already In
tho fight. a ticket which gives promise
of making itself a real factor in the
campaign.
MUST OFFER MORE THAN
SPEECH OF ACCEI"rA NCI
All Democrats and most Republicans
agree, however. that If Mr.. Hughes is
make an effective campaign. he must
offer the country far more than he
offered in his speech of acceptance
and far more than his platform stands
for. lie cannot win on personality
alone. nor even on fancied blunders
which the present administration has
4
grom of action that will carry strong
appeal to tho country and for that
reason many of his friends would even
become reconciled to 80 revolutionary
n move a sa nationwide prohibition
declaration by their candidate.
Inst Mountain Excursion Via
Norfolk nnd Western Railway.
will leave BYRD ST. Station. Tuesday. Aug. Is.