Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-24
Hughes the Disingcnuous

THERE is no mystery in the collapse of the
Hughes boom and the turning to Presi-
dent Wilson which has become the over
shadowng feature of the campaign Mr.
Hughes has failed to justify tho hopes of his
friends and the prophecies so confidently
made in his behalf because he has declined 10
deal honestly and fairly with the American
people
vi this fact. long patent 10 every political
observer, the disclosures made yesterday by
the Democratic National Committee afford
final and indubitable truth. Whatever Mr.
Hughes told O'Leary and his colleagues there
can be no question that there was a confer
ence' ana that as result of that conference
OLeary reported to his organization that the
Republican candidate had promised that his
future conduct in the experimenting line
should be entirely satisfactory to the interests
OF the committee"
1t is not impossible that GLeary's hatred
of President Wilson induced him TO over
emphasize what Mr.. Hughes actually said
1t does seem inconcevabe that the candidate,
after concentrating Colonel Roosevelt, en-
his Maine speech, should have withdrawn his
Endorsement of that ultra Roosevcltian utter
ance. 1t is certain. however, Mr.. Hughes re-
ccivcd the representatives of an organization
which has placed the interests OF a foreign
power above the interests of America and
that he gave them some assurances which
they regarded satisfactory.
The incident is Of Il piece with Mr. IIughes's
whole course throughout the campaign
While he runs with the hare he banks With
the hounds. While he felictates Colonel
Roosevelt speech attacking The prasi.
dent for not being more Deremptory with Ger
many. he takes counsel with and receives the
promised support of men who denounce that
speech as Inconsistent with American ideals
and American history"
What mystery is there in the Hughes
failure to attract the sympathy of loynl
Americans, or indeed of any sort of Ameri-
cans? He represents in himself no principle
save an outworn Tory Rcpublica nism The
bulk Of the support he has hoped TO receive
is made up OF mutually contradictory pro-
tests against one or another aspect Of the
Presidents foreign or domestic policy, and
Mr.. Hughes cannot declare himself on any
one OF these questions without alternating -
part OF his following
II" has chosen deliberately therefore. to
deal in vague phrases and glttering and
meaningless gcnera!itcS. He pats Colonel
Roosevelt on the back with one hand. while
he holds out the other TO OI.earv and tries
ms hardest all the time not to let one hand
know what the other hand is doing From
IN" moment he received the announcement of
his nomination and, declaring national
cXigency dictated his resignation from the
supreme Court. transformed himself from a
100 per cent Judge into 90 per cent can
didate. he has pussyfootcd all the way
Perhaps there was Il time when this sort
of campaign could win success but it is
not true OF this campaign. More than mere
party ISSUES are involved. and the American
people realize the gravity of the decision they
are called to make The hour demands
man. and Hughes has been weighed in the
balances and found wanting
Otto Of Bavaria wasn't the only mad King