South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-28
Herald, Independent,
Endorses Wilson
for Another Term

MUlt IMAM NlAotLAlAE Allt NdhAtoa
which republicans have attempted 10
make Of the Chicago Daily News
coming out for Hughes with its-pro-
verbal regularity Of 10 days before
election. the Chicago Herald. next
morning. came out and editorially
recommended the reelection Of
Pres't Wilson The Chicago Daily
News, pretensively independent, has
never been known. however, 10 sup
port anything but republicans in ma
tionaI politics when finally brought
to a showdown. This is the first
campaign under the present manage
ment of the Herald. that it has had
occasion TO declare itself in national
affairs.
The Herald, among the great in
dependent newspapers of the Coun-
try. is edited by James Kelley. who
in 1912 was editor OF the Chicago
Tribune and was strong for Theo-
dore Roosevelt and the bull moos-
ers.
Since the opening OF the presi-
Dental campaign the Herald has
been devOting two columns on its
editorial page TO letters from its
subscribers touching the "qualifca-
ton" of Pres't Wilson and Mr..
Hughes. In announcing its preference
for Wilson the herald frankly admits
that its course has been dictated by
the majority or the big Herald fam
lily" as the papers readers are call
ed
The editorial in part follows:
There is a strong and reasonable
sentiment in this country in favor of
rewarding the efforts of tried and ac-
ceptable public servants by re-elec-
ton. We see this principle invoked
in every contest from the smallest
political fight 20 the greatest national
struggle. Within the great parties a
president who has done we'll is con-
ceded the right to denomination.
There is no reason why this test
should not be applied at this time to
Pres't Wilson himself On the rec
ord as a whole, OF things done on the
prospect of things 10 be done is there
a real reason for the American peo-
pie at this time to repudiate the pres
ident. There are 10 the Herald good
reasons why they should not do so.
Out of the disquietude of recent
events the nation has sailed into the
calmer seas of the present But what
American can or should forget in so
short a time the manifold Difficult
ties Which confronted Pres't Wilson
during the first two years Of the war.
What American can or should for
get that he was called on almost at
every moment to act on matters big
with the fate of the nation. What
just man can overlook how anxious
ly he studied the public opinion OF
the country. that he might put the
decision of the government in ac-
cord Herewith. Above all, who can
forget that he acted not in the light
Of subsequent events but under the
direct menace of the event itself.
From the standpoint of foreign
affairs the question which presents
itself 10 the American people is
whether it would not be unwise TO
swap horses in the middle of the
stream. The president has all the
ends of the tangled skein of foreign
politics in his hand. He has the as
sistance of an able secretary of state.
From the standpoint of efficiency
no change is needed From the stand
point of the effect on foreign ma
tions a change probably would be
bad. IL would encourage the idea
that America is a field where foreign
intrigue i'm the field of politics may
produce good results and to that ex-
tent weaken the present administra-
tons successor.
The Herald sees no real reason
for the belief expressed by campaign
orators that Mr. Wilson's reelection
means commercial disaster. 1t sees
much reason. as Mr.. Lovett said:
why national party that has done
its best in the right spirit TO treat
business fairly should receive recog-
milton of the fact from business naen.
The contrary course must in the end
result in making one party extreme
ly radical and the other wildly re-
dictionary and that means that we
shall have administration and legis-
latiOn on class grounds and not on
national grounds when either party
get in power That is certainly some
thing we'll worth avoiding The cam
paign is closing; the nation is en-
tering into the valley of decision.
Each member of the great Herald
family Will vote for the candidate
whom he or she believes is best fit
ted 10 grasp the wheel of the ship
Of state. But the Herald believes. $
II believes a great majority of its
readers believes. that for what ne
has done, for what he has not done.
for what he has induced his party
10 do, Woodrow Wilson has earned
four more years OF service to the
American people. Re-elect him.