Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-12
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINA
TON,

NE
in Chicago Saturday chose the lesser
of two objectionables so far as desire
and intent on the part of the dominant
spirit Of the delegates was concerned,
when it nominated Justice Charles
Evans Hughes for the presidency. The
convention was set against the graft
fication of the ambition Of Colonel
Roosevelt because it regarded him as
party betrayer and an migrate, not
outstanding that it recognized the
element of strength that would attach
to his nomination in bringing back the
progressive vote. In the face of pro-
tests, not only from Roosevelt himself
who denounced the jurist as pussy
fOoter" and unequivocally declared
him unfit for the Office, but from the
party leadership all over the land, rep
resented by such newspapers as the
New York Tribunte with its solemn
warning that the nomination meant
absolutely the reelection of President
Wilson, it doubted seriously the wis
! dom of the nomination of Mr.. Hughes.
But the convention had run so many
days. the delegates were growing rest
less and weary of the delay, with the
chance of some fool thing happening
either through the threatened pres
ence Of Roosevelt on the scene, or a
break that might reach proportions be-
yond control and put over the colonel,
in whose favor the element of luck has
so often broken. that the powers III
control did not dare to risk more than
three ballots. So it was determined ID
name Hughes and be done with it. Ii
this way Roosevelt would be put in
hole where he would be obliged either
to desert the party which he had
created and which trusted him, or
stultify himself by swallowing Hughes
So far as putting the self-seeking
Roosevelt in the hole, the convention
succeeded most beautifully, despite
the fact that from the progressive con-
vention came the charges made by
Victor Murdoch that the republicans
had started a stampede for the ice
wagon instead of the band wagon and
that the nomination of Hughes and
Fairbanks was tribute to the arctic
circle"
For Hughes is not popular His pop
ularity is not only lacking with the
masses but likewise with the old
guard. Only through expediency did
they nominate him. They would have
defeated him had they dared
The republican platform upon which
Mr., Hughes will aspire to the presi-
dency is a carefully executed docu-
ment, displaying the shrewd diplo-
macy of its designers. 1t embodies
"pussy-foOtedness' in repugnant doses.
1t delves into ancient history rather
than the present and in spread eagle
fashion carries its advocates back to
the days of 81. 1t refers but little
to recent achievements Of party or its
leaders.
1t advances no new principles. 1t
boldly plunges into Mexican affairs,
realizing that country to be a weak
sister and with no power of retalia-
ton. But all other foreign policies,
on which the republican party has so
severely attacked President Wilson
and his administration, it handles With
gloves OF asbestos. 1t fails to recall
that the present Mexican imbrogli0
had its inception in the days of former
republican administrations and was
brought about largely through the
avaricious greed Of American capital
lists with investments in that country
They placed the dollar ahead of prin-
ciple, and the Mexicans naturally re-
scented this intrusion of their country
and what they believed to be their
rights. In cautious words the platform
gently rebukes the trusts. But no
reference is made to the fact that these
trusts were nourished from infants to
mighty giants under their protective
laws.
AS for Roosevelt, whose threatened
desertion now of the party he made
promises to be on par with the hui
initiation and degradation into which
he four years ago precipitated the
party that had made him, his only op-
portunity for usefulness in the cam
paign will be in the role of a free
lance in behalf of the candidate be
declared a pussy-footer" unfit for the
high office of president of the United
States. He is cunning enough to know
that the chief support he carried from
Wall street into the progressive party
with him has gone back to the repub-
lican party in support of Hughes
With George ". Perkins Of the Har-
, vester trust and J. Ogden Armour OF
the beef trust having withdrawn their
further assistance, when they discov.
cred the weakness Of the chief bull
moose, the thought Of going down
with colors flying at the head of the
| band that had followed him out of the
republican camp four years ago and
was still willing to stick by him. does
not appeal TO the colonel. The idea is
apparently not spectacular enough OF
heroic" enough-and so he rudely in
| formed his followers that they could
count on him no longer-and for the
present, at least, he would spurn fur,
! Their empty honors at their hands.
The Hughes convention was un.
marked by evidence Of enthusiasm and
the nomination is received by the
country with surprising lack Of con
| fdences