The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14

The issue is belnE sharply defined
now, Indeed. there is but one issue
today: Protection. Not the mere
protection of which the reader may at
first think, but protection for the
American Nation, protection for
Americas honor, protection for Amer
ica's respect. protection for Americas
proud position among the nations
protection for our people and our re-
public, the protection which is a syn
onym for preparedness; protection
also, but secondariIy, for our indus
tries; for the American workmen who
must be kept far above the plane of
the European laborer, who must he
given what he richly deserves, full
credit for his work, full enjoyment for
the opportunities and the recreations
to which he as an American citizen is
entitled.
Who was it brave enough to de-
clare, when there was a brewing muir
muir of hyphenated Americans serv-
ing first the country from which they
! came, instead of the country to which
| they had hopefully come, and to which
they had ascribed allegiance? 1t was
Roosevelt of German lineage, who
out of our citizenship; to announce
the doctrine of America first, last and
| all the time. :.
1t was Roosevelt, the friend of the
kaiser, who did not hesitate to de-
nounce Germany when she broke her
treaty with this country by ruthlessly
invading Belgium. President Wilson
to this day, has not protested against
i&1
protest would not have meant war.
Roosevelt declares it would not have
meant war, in the preface to Spragues
wonderful little book, called Made in
/ Germany" When a man breaks
contract with us, when he declares his
| written agreement is but a scrap of
paper, we do not necessarily go out
and knock him down, or shoot him,
but we cease doing business with him.
He has betrayed our confidence.
/ Who is the logical Republican can
didate today for the presidency? 1t
was Hughes last fall, it is Roosevelt
today. Here are phases of the Hughes
/ situation. He has not declared him
self on the great issues of prepared
ness. The candidate of the Republi-
| and tend to insure success must have
a position well defined. We must an
nounce it. Justice Hughes cannot de-
fine his attitude on political issues for
he has said that he is not a candidate
for the high. office. The moment he
attempts to define his attitude on
I those issues, he would thereby be-
come a candidate. Think of this, too.
4 There is a widespread belief that
! Brandeis is not a safe man to be on q
! supreme bench. Whether he is or is
not, such a feeling prevails and a
/ great man like Hughes can hold
i Brandeis level or can offset him.
! Imagine if Justice Hughes decided to
] resign to accept the presidential NOM
! nation rendered him even by accla-
nation; the country would not only
lose, at a critical period, a strong
/ man, but Wilson would be given the
opportunity of appointing another
| Brandeis.
1t is flippantly and thoughtlessly
remarked that Roosevelt is a mill
tarist;" that he would plunge US into
war; that he would be extravagant in
the matter of preparedness. Nothing
could be further from the actual stu
alton as proven by Roosevelt's seven
years in the White House, during
which time we had no war; but during
a time when it is said he averted it by
shrewd diplomacy and practical
craftsmanship. A few days ago Roose-
welt said:
Il am not for war. On the contrary, 1
| abhor an unjust or wanton war, and 1
| avoid even a just war. But feel with all
my heart that you don't, in the long run,
| avoid war by making other people believe
that you are afraid to fight for your own
| rights
/ 1t was Roosevelt who brought about
the Peace cf Portsmouth, which ad-
| justed the relations between Russia
and Japan after a disastrous and de-
structive war. Someone asked the
writer last night what would Roose-
welt have done in the Mexican situa-
ton, as confronted for years by Presi-
dent Wilson. The reply was made
offhand: He would have commanded
respect. The nomination and election
of Roosevelt would at once restore re-
spect for this country. The word
''gringo" would not be uttered in
Mexico as a sneerfng term of derision.
Germany and other nations would
realize that President Roosevelt, with
the sane and sensible, manly, states
manlike qualifications he displayed
when president, would again become
dominant in this country. They would
take heed.
At the risk of being charged with
lack of dignity in treating this serious
topic, this remark will be ventured;
Roosevelt's bark is more dangerous
than his bite. But his bark is effec-
tive and he can snap his teeth togeth
| er when a question of honor, national
or personal; when deplorabie child la
Dor conditions are to be corrected;
when oVerWorked women are to be