The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-26

to the character or actions OF the Re
publican National Convention.
to say that the members OF the
publican National convention were
unquestionabiy induced to nominate Mr..
Hughes primarily because OF the belief
that his integrity and force OF char.
acter. and his long record OF admirable
public service, would make him pc
crliarly acceptable. not only to the
rank and filc of the Republican party.
do not believe that Mr.. hughes
would have been nominated II 1t had
not been for the fight on behalf OF
Progressive party has waged during
the past four years.
Pleads Only for
Nations Welfare.
In any event, and without any regard
TO what the personal feelings OF any
OF us may be as regards the action OF
the Republican convention. I wish very
solemnly to ask the Representatives OF
the Progressive party to consider at
this time only the welfare OF the people
OF the United States.
We shall prove false to our ideals
and our professions n. In this grave
crisis 10 the nations life, we sermit
ourselves TO be swerved from the one
prime duty OF serving with cool judg-
ment and sinEle-minded devotion the
nations needs.
Our own political fortunes. i.divfd-
ually and collectively. are Of n, con-
sequence whatever. when compared
with the honor and welfare Of the
people Of the United States.
Such things do NOT count when
duty to scrve well the country in which.
after we are dead, oir chidrsn and
our children's children are to lie..
World Passing
Through Crisis.
The world is passing thror.n 4 sreat
crisis. and no man can tell what trial
and jeopardy will have TO he faced by
this nation during the years bnr.cdi-
ately ahead.
There IL now TO longer before us for
decision the question as To Whit par
ticular man We NAV sevnrallv most de-
sire to see at the heal of the Govern
mcnt. We can decide only whether
country shall be entrusted to the lead.
ership OF Mr.. Hughes Or Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.; Wilson E has been tried AMI found
votion to the cutworn theory of state
rights. and because OF It's reliance upon
purely sectional support. stands against
that spirit OF far-sighted nationalisr1
which L. essential IL we are to deal
adequately with our gravest socinl and
industrial problems.
Mr.. Wilson and his party have Ii
actual practice Numerically failed to
safeguard the Interest and honor Of
the United States. They have brought
us to impotence abroad and to division
and weakness At home.
They have accustomed MS to see tho
highest and inost responsible offices II
Government filed by incompetent men
aapolnted only for reasons Of partisan
politics. They have dul!t thu moral
sense of the people.
They have taught us that peace. ting
peace OF cowardice and dishonor nnd
Indifference to the welfare OF others. 10
to be put above righteousness. above
the stern and unfl!nchrng performance
of duty whether the duty Is pleasant
or unpleasant.
Fail to Obtain
Peace in Mexico.
Yet In MeAico they have failel even
to secure the peace which they thus
sought: and they have failed N spite Of
the most ample opportunity and most
ample warning. TO prepare In any real
fashion, to meet the CRISIS witch their
| own policy invited.
| first" safety before duty and honor. TO
put that matcralism which expresses
| Itself in mere money making. and IN
the fatted case Of life. ABOVE all spirit
ual things. above all the bigh and fino
instincts OF the soul.
They have taught us to accept adroit
elocution as a substitute for straightfor-
| word and efficient action. They haye
| raised indecision, hesitancy and VacilA-
ton into a settled governmental policy.
Guarantees of
Career of Hughes.
Mr.. Hughes has shown in his career
the instinct OF efficiency which will
guarantee that. under him, the Govern
ment will once more work with vigor
and force.
He possesses that habit Of stralghtfor-
ward thinking which means that his
words will be correlated with his deeds
and TRANSLATED into facts.
His past career is the warrant for
our belief that he will be the unfaltering
eminent which finds expression in the
domination OF the party boss and the
party machine.
His past career is a guarantee that
whatever he says before election will
be made good by his acts after election.
Morally, his public record shows him
to be a man OF unbending INTEGRITY: in
tellectually. 1t shows him to be man of
original and trained ability.
We have the alternative Of coBtin-
uinE in office an Administration
which has proved n lamentable fail-
ure, OF of putting into office an Al
ministrntion which we have everS
reason to believe will function with
efficiency for the interest and honOs
| OF all our people. I earnestly boz
| speak from my Acknowledgements
their ungrudging support II Mn
Hughes.
| Yours truly,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
| Sycamore Hill. June %, 1916.