Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-05
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Huerta. had been only twelve days in
power When Mr.. Wilson came in. Up
to that time nothing had been done
committing the government to one pol
icy or another. We had pressed for
American rights with Madero whose
government We had recognized and
whose government we attempted
to aid by placing the embargo
on arms SO that importations
might not help insurgents and render
his control less firm. We did not inter-
vene by force in any way. We pressed
demand for compensation for injuries
to Americans. and we also pressed for
the settlement of two important ques-
tons with respect to tine boundaries OF
Mexico. Had the Republican admins
tration been continued, Huerta would
have been recognized, but with only
twelve days before the coming in of a
new Administration, it would have
been entirely improper and inconsid-
crate for the outgoing Administration
to commit the incoming to any policy
on the subject. More than this, delay
in recognizing Huerta would have Sc
cured settlement Of the troublesome
questions Of boundary to which | have
referred. Mr. Wilson can not shift
blame for his plumbers in Mexico. He
had a clean slate upon which to write
when he came in.
When comparison is instituted between
the two candidates. it is difficult to see
how the American electorate can make
the mistake of continuing Mr. Wilson in
power. People can only Judge Of men
by what they say and what they do and
by comparison of what they say with
what they do This comparison in Mr.
Wilson's case does not create confidence
in him as man to be entrusted with fur
Their responsibilities in the critical times
that are to follow.
Mr.. Wilson. as a publicist, wrote the
most effective argument in favor of the
representative system and against the
initiative, the referendum and the recall:
and then in his campaign for the nominal
ton and the election in 1912 he abandoned
his former position and announced a rad
lcal change in view upon that subject
In 1872, Mr. Wilson in his campaign
sreeches sought for votes on the ground
that the Democratic arty had declared
in favor of a law eXcmpting our coast
wise trade from Panama Canal tolls and
emphasized this as n real and definite
offer to the people of something subs.an-
tlal and not mere molasses to catch pcli-
teal flies. At a critical time in the Mexi-
can troubles when he desired aid and as
sistance of England, he made a speech in
Congress in which he said that for rea-
son which he did not then define and has
never since defined, he wished the dis
elimination in favor CT the American do
mestic trade repealed md he never gave
his reasons for his change of attitude
Mr.. Wilson flouted the necessity for
military and naval preparedness and
laughed at those who insisted on it as
timid natures. When, however, the ponu-
lar strength of the movement in favor of
it became clear, he changed his attitude,
made a tour throughout the country and
called for the greatest navy in the world
Mr. Wilson, as candidate. vigorously
upheld the principle of the merit system
in the Civil service, and yet when he be-
came President and was urged not to
sign bill taking out of the classified ser
vice all deputy collectors and deputy mar
shals, he openly defended the change and