Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-11-17
THE REAL ANSWER.
New York Tribune, Rep.)

On election night when the returns
from those states which have hith-
erto been regarded as pivotal in ma
tional campaigns indicated Il large
majority for Mr.. Hughes, The Trib-
une editorially wrote of the result
that it was reputation of Mr.. Will
son and an answer to his declara-
tions of policy and purpose. The re-
turns which have been subsequently
received have demonstrated clearly
that the Tribune was mistaken in its
conclusions and that, far from repu-
diation of Mr.. Wilson, the returns
that are now ut hand constitute the
most remarkable personal endorse
President since the days of Andrew
jackson.
1t is relatively minor thing wheth-
er the few hundred votes that will
decide the electoral votes of Cali
fornia and Minnesota fall to Mr.. Will
son or to Mr.. Hughes. The very fact
that these great Republican States
have been in doubt to this morning
indicates the extent of the failure of
the Republican candidate and his par
ty and not less clearly the amazing
triumph of Mr. Wilson.
There is tendency to overestimate
the influence of the west in the decis-
ion and to ignore the verdict of the
East, of New England in particular.
Yet the votes of Massachusetts, and
Maine, the almost unbelievable fig
ures from New Hampshire, indicate
abroad in the west. Kansas and Min
nesota was to be felt and seen in
New England.
1t is possible to debate the Ques-
ton as to whether the larger part of
the result was due to Mr.. Hughes
personal failure as candidate and
his absolute refusal to meet the
great questions Of the campaign fair
ly and bravely. or to a general en-
thusasm for Mr.. Wilson and for his
policies. But such a discussion is in
the main academic. However much
Importance one may attach to Mr..
Hughes failure only deliberate and
intentional injustice could obscure
. the extent of the personal triumph
of Mr.. Wilson. He has done what
none but his friends and partisnns
believed he could do, and he has wen
an endorsement in portions of the ma
ton which have never before given a
similar tribute to a Democratic can
date for the Presidency, save in years
of a Republican factional strife.
Long before election day there
ceased to be any question about an
affirmative vote for Mr.. Hughes. Long
ago the single question of the canvass
became that of the rejection or in.
dorsement of MIR. Wilson. On election
day the real problem was not whethe,
Mr.. Hughes or Mr.. Wilson would be
elected, but whether the public woulC
accept or reject Mr.. Wilson. In tho
first hours of the count. when Mr.
Wilson's defeat was conceded by the
newspapers which had supported hin
most Loyalty and was written in al
the returns then available The Trib
une said that Mr.. Wilson had beer
rejected and his policies repudiated
In all this The Tribune was mistaken
and it does not believe that any sucl
conclusion can now be drawn from
the election, even if Mr.. Hughes sue
ceeds Mr.. Wilson by virtue of tn
turn of few hundred votes in tw
disputed States.
Such personal satisfaction as col
be drawn from the result belongs t.
= Mr.. Wilson; he is entitled to it. TIL
Tribune hoped there would be
4 straight out issue between Mr.. viii
= sons policies and those that it be
lieved were bravers and better. N
such issue was raised because MI
Hughes steadfastly declined to rails
1T. Had such an issue been fairl
raised The Tribune believes that
different answer might have been ha(
But even this is open to challene
and permits no proof.
Whether Mr.. Wilson now wins O
loses the count, the real honors of tn