The Detroit times., 1916-08-16
BY Il. N. hickey.

" We
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Aug, 10
The most lifeless and uninteresting
presidential campaign in a genera.
ton! This is the way the real lead
ers OF the two great parties private.
ly size up the contest between Pres.
ident Wilson and would-be Prest
dent Hughes, which was officially
opened when the latter started on
his western stumping tour.
The situation up TO the time Of
the national conventions In Chicago
and 81. Louis, In June, was preg.
nant with 81 or more varieties OF
possibilities for spirited. not 10
say knock.down and drsg.out, con.
test.
Roosevelt and Bryan, the two
high explosive shells OF American
politics. one or both OF whom has
played star role in every national
campaign since the late eighteen
hundreds, were still alive. politically
speaking. and In good voice.
With their passing. and the conse
quent elimination from the cam.
paign OF the issue OF extreme mill.
tary preparedness against extreme
pacifcism, the prospects for any.
thing even approaching a lively
campaign went glimmering
The cold truth Is that the Repub
leans are In tho most unenviable
OF political positions. They must
make an offensive fight without any
real issue. This Ia not a partisan
statement. II is not made for any
other purpose than TO attempt 10
present TO open-min6oG readers OF
Independent newspapers, a correct
Interpretation OF the political situa.
ton as IL exists
In proof OF the fact that this is
a fair Interpretation, the Republican
platform and Candidates Hughes
speeches up TO this time are offered
as exhibits.
Take the platform and compare II
with the Democratic platform. What
issue is raised in IL that is worth
while fghting about in national
campaign? II Is composed almost
entirely OF criticism. some general
some specific. OF the Wilson admin.
istration. In not one paragraph
does 1t tell the country what the Re.
publicans would have done had they
been In power, or what they propose
10 do in given circumstances, II
they get into power
President Wilson has sacrificed
the honor OF the nation in his deal.
ings with European powers and
Mexico is the chief complaint.
This is the key upon which the
Republican convention evidently in.
tended 10 pitch the campaign
against President Wilson Undouot.
eddy this liz Candidate Hughes In.
depreciation OF the will OF his party.
Judging by his speech OF acceptance
Ni4N iAH idAfl Np'fNhtSs
The obvious counter 10 this SER.
Gus charge by party and candidate
is II you had been in power
what would you have done to have
saved our honor
Would you have declared wa
against Germany after the Lust
tAnia outrage"
Would you have declared war
against Turkey, after the slaughter
OF Armenians and the mistrcatment
II missionaries ,"
Would you have declared war
against England and France for in.
reference with our ships and
mails"
Would YOU have declared war
against Mexico. after this. that OF
the other tragic occurrence in that
country and. II so, after which one 80
What recourse, excepting war
has been open to the American peo-
pie. to save the honor which you
say. but we deny. has been sacri.
hced?"
These questions in varying forms,
have been hurled at the Republican
leaders in congress and at Candi-
date Hughes ever since the Chicago
convention. The only attempt that
has been made TO answer them was
made by Hughes in his speech OF
acceptance when he said that all OF
the crises that had occurred be.
tween this and foreign nations. dur.
ing the past two years. were due 10
the fact that President Wilson had