New-York tribune., 1916-06-17
SPEAK QUIT
With Convictions in the Making, Mr.
Hughes Is Urged to Lead.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: As n constant but not always friend
ly reader Of your editorial page may | ex-
press the opinion that The Tribune, almost
alone among the great newspapers of the
East. is correctly representing that countless
number Of average Americans whose po-
litica interest is quickencd by desire for
national honor and prosperity rather than
greed for Office or partisan bias7
We accept the nomination Of Mr.. Justice
Hughes because we have been too inert TO
compel our lawmakers to give US Presl-
Dental primary worthy the name. we are
constrained TO support Mr.. Justice hughes
because In our uncertainty as to exactly
where he stands we can at least hope Tor
steadfastness OF policy lacking in the VIII
son Administration. There is known weak
ness. A change may bring US stability Oh
purpose without which there can be no last
ing national dignity.
There are reasons why We average Amerl-
cans cannot bring to our support OF Mr'
Justice Hughes that spontaneous enthusiasm
with which we would have shouted the cause
Of the Man of Oyster Bay, and every hours
silence on Mr. Hughes's part diminishes
what littla warmth we can put into our sup
port Of him.
The Tribune voices the demand OF mum
dreds Of thousands of voters in insisting
that Mr. Hughes, as candidate for Presi-
dent. shall take US into his confidence we
feel that we have right TO know whether
or not the alien voice is more potent than
the voice of we ordinary, everyday average
Americans. We think we are secure in count
ing Mr.. Hughes safe on this issue, but we
want him to forget his pose of silence and
tell us in words that none can misunder-
stand The glittering generalities that
please the shifty politicians aren't sufficient.
We want plain words and blunt. We de-
mand an unequivocal reputation Of hyphen-
ism and all it stands for. The Republican
convention, blinded by petty prejudice
against Roosevelt, lodged the issue. Mr..
Hughes, his telegram of acceptance notwith-
standing. has failed to meet it yet. Our
faith in him will wane as he prolongs silence
on the most momentous question that has
arisen since secession raised its snakclike
head.
am one of that nearly four million strong
host Of Roosevelt followers who know not
where to turn now the blind partisanshp
of the Republican bosses has cheated Amer
lea and the world OF the services of the
man who never in his career had to be
Smoked out" on a question of national
honor or humanity. Not only America, the
world needs in the chair at Washington to-
day man of Roosevelt's sound convictions
and the courage of them.
Opportunity awaits to emblazon in immor-
tai fame the name of a man big enough and
courageous enough 20 cast expedency to the
winds and in tones that will reverberate
down the ages cry a halt 10 this mad orgy
of blood. Opportunity awaits to enshrine IN
glory the name of man big enough and
courageous enough to cast expedency TO the
winds and in tones alive with consecrated
fervor cry halt TO the snarlng alienism
that seeks TO dominate American politics.
Oh, for a man who dares to scotch this
snake of hyphenism before the venom Of its
fangs has succeeded in polluting the blood
of the natonl
Charles T.. Hughes speak out.
Shifting in purpose and vacillating in pol
icy as he is Woodrow Wilson at least dared
TO defy the alien alliances. Dare you?
Now is the time TO win the support Of we
who have had at least to gulp in swallowing
your nomination. If you wear the brand of
the German alliance much longer we shall
be convinced the collar is of your choosing,
and in that event we shall prefer weak
Wilson to a naughty Hughes.
Our convictions are in the making. Speak
out or lose us.
A ROOSEVELT REPUBLICAN.
Carbondale, Penn, June Is, 1915.