The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-08-18

life's blood and bleached bones to
the future fertility Of European soil;
or, barring that, would have let loose
the dogs of desolation at the destruc-
ton of the Lusitania-or he would
have done something else, certainly
in a different way or mood or what
not from the course pursued by Pres
ident Wilson.
The country needs preparedness,
he declared.
Certainly so, and right there in his
presence, in the corporal flesh, sat a
former President of the United
States, his partisan and his support
err, who in near eight years, had done
by comparison with the Wilson rec
ord, practically nothing in the direc-
tion of preparation.
Not far away, not, however, on the
scene, was another former President,
who deploring his inability to be
president, but looking forward to the
Hughes speech as happy and sure
"augury" of Republican success, who
had served several years as secretary
of war, prior to a four years incum-
bency of the White House, who had
left state of national unprepared-
ness as an unfortunate heritage to
Mr.. Wilson.
And that was pretty much the
speech.
Destructiveness was its keynote
and the absence of constructiveness
it's burden.
Not one word as to the Democratic
record in domestic affairs. No en-
dorsement of the long strides taken
to progressive ends.
Not one charge even of any Demo-
cratic pledge having been violated.
Mr.. Hughes had not one word to
say of the Democratic party's enact
ment to prevent frenzied finance from
terrorizing the nation, that thrift and
wealth to panic makers might follow
the desolation of the many.
Not one word as to the law to tax
wealth that poverty's burden might
be lightened.
Not one word about Rural Credits,
which put the producers at money
ease when financial stringency how
ers. Nothing as to appropriations
and legislation in the interests of
labor; in the humanizing cause of the
children of the land; nothing of the
extension of post routes; of the
building of good roads and the open
ing up of navigation.
Not word as to the establishment
of a trade or tariff commission or the
researches that have been instituted
in every department of the govern
ment looking to better conditions
for all men.
Only as a last thought, as a des-
perate effort to play sharp politics,
did Woman Suffrage occur to him;
and the day after the speech, with
something to tie his candidacy to,
he rushed forward, where his party
in convention had refused to go and
declared himself as favoring the sub
mission of Woman Suffrage amend
ment to the Constitution.
He saw that his TRADE against the
Presidents handling of international
questions had fallen into ground that
was fallow; he had come, after
nights sleep, to realize the weakness
of America first and America eff
ficient" as a slogan; he saw the dan
ger to himself of attacking any of
Democracy's legislation of con-
structive character; he dared not
comment adversely upon any of the
lofty governmental ideals of the
President, so, overnight, he took
woman suffrage to his bosom and
there it now temporarily rests until
some of his advisers shall come along
and separate him and it.
Temporary sop to the woman vot-
ers of a number of states which he
hopes thus to carry!
What chance would he have if
elected, with a Republican congress
to enforce the submission of an
amendment that his party in national
convention assembled had over
whelmingly determined against?
Can he by such tactics con the in
telligent womanhood of the country?
Does the man or candidate who
goes to an issue, facing both ways,
ever land anywhere?