South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-04
Wilson S Policies
Are Praised by
Republican Editor

With accustomed accuracy and
candor the editor Of the Springfield
Republican" Of Springfield, Mass.
has reviewed the public careers OF
Woodrow Wilson and Charles r.
Hughes with the earnest purpose of
deciding upon the editorial policy
Of that newspaper in the present
campaign.
The Republican" is one OF the
most ably edited and famous news
papers in America. It's editor has
waited i'm the present campaign 20
hear both candidates before taking
sides.
Like a candid, broad-minded pub
licist he yields that measure OF praise
to Mr.. Hughes he thinks his public
acts must claim, but like a true pa
trict ne announces his allegiance to
the country's present policies and
pledges his splendid talents hence
forth TO the reelection of Woodrow
Wilson.
The republicans editorial, making
Pres't Wilson the candidate of its
choice, has already become a notable
bit OF literature in the campaign. 1t
says in part:
Mr.. Wilson, in the face Of Difficult
ties and criticism such as hace con-
fronted no president since Lincoln.
has accomplished much. To de-
clare his foreign policy futile is idle.
The conclusive answer is contained
in the bitter protests of the radical
faction in Germany that the Ger
man submarines have been caught
I'm net of notes" The Outstand-
ing fact is that MI. Wilson. without
Lringing the United States into war.
has forced q recognition of neutral
rights.
With relation to Mexico, Mr.. Will
son has grasped the underlying prin-
ciple that we shall not have per-
manently peaceful neighbor 10 the
south of US until the most patent
wrongs under which the masses OF
the Mexican people have suffered are
righted through their own efforts.
The recognition of this principle in
the long run means the minimum of
evil TO this country from the MeN-
can problem. IL is TO Mr.. Wilson $
everlasting credit that in spite of
difficulties. announcements, and
possibly of incidental mistake, he
has not wavered in his endeavor 10
apply this principle to the changing
circumstances Of the times.
Mr.. Hughes Obligation.
Much is made, and very properly,
of the fact that Mr. Hughes, if elect
ed, would take office free from ham,
pering pledges But if free from
pledges. he is not free from obliga-
tons. Having cOurted and gained
the support of Col. Roosevelt. il
would be impossible for Mr.. Hughes.
as a matter of practical politics, TO
sign a treaty with Columbia redress
ing the wrongs done that nation
when Col. Roosevelt seized the
canal zone. Mr. Roosevelt has
angrily and bitterly opposed such
action on the part of our govern
ment. correctly estimating that IL
would be a reputation Of his course
and a personal humiliation 10 him.
Consequently, for Mr.. Hughes to
support such a treaty would be TO
invite an experience similar TO that
which befei Mr.. Taft. Yet adjust
ment of Columbia's wrongs is inn
rortant for the United States, not
merely as a matter of national
honor, but as a matter of dollars and
cents in our commercial dealings
with all Latin America, where SYM
pathy could be gained TO SO large
a degree by no other one act.
Wilson is Progressive.
Under MIR. wilson's leadership the
democratic party is today a better
instrument of progressive govern
ment than in a generation, If not
in it's entire history. and, what is
more to the point. a better instru-
ment, in the opinion of this paper,
than the republican party promises
at this moment TO become under Mr..
Hughes. Various episodes have en-
phasized the fact that the democra-
tic party has had comparatively few
outstanding leaders of national re-
putatiOn. But it is one of the chief
items of Mr.. Wilson's leadership
that during his term progressive and
enlightened democrats such as New
ton y. Baker, secretary of war, have
been brought more and more TO the
front while the reactiOnaries have
been sent more and more to the rear.
The party has been in training and
il has gained. But in spite of any
comparative lack OF leaders, the
democrats meeting in caucus, when
ever caucus has been necessary,
have threshed things out and de-
termined 10 support, one after an
other. a long series of soundly con-
structive legislative measures of his
toric importance-notable among
them the income tax, the banking
and currency act, the rural credits
act. the child labor bill. the federal
unemployment service, the hUmani-
tartan features of the seamen's act
and the provision for vocational
training for civil life while in the
army To achieve such a record
without leaders. if it were literally
true that the democrats had had no
leaders. would be in itself a triumph
of democracy and a better promise
than any amount of leadership
stamped with the political concep-
tions of BOies PenrOse.