Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-05

signed the measure. Deputy collectors
and deputy marshals are officers whose
political activity. until covered into tne
classified service, was one OF the great
est abuses in the Civil Service. He signed,
without objection, or protest, law after
law creating new offices by hundreds and
thousands with special exemption of the
amendments from the Civil Service law.
Mr.. Wilson as a publicist. criticized the
idea that the Filipino people could be
easily trained to self-government. ana
urged the pursuit Of the exact policy
which the Republican Administration
adopted, Of retaining control of the gov
eminent so that the Philippines should
be given a good government until the peo-
ple should really be trained and ACQUIRE
the character that self-government Inn
plies. In Office, however. he has urged
LEGISLATION giving what he calls liberty
to the Philippine people, which involves
the elimination of Americans from the
Civil Service, and is a direct reversal Of
the policy he had advocated. In his con-
troversy with his Secretary OF war; ne
admitted that the enactment or la"
giving independence to the Philippines In
four years was premature. and unwise.
Within a few weeks. he wrote letter
to the Democratic caucus when the bin
was pending in the House, after 1t MAJ
passed the Senate, urging the adoption
OF the provision by which such an aban-
donment should take place.
Mr. Wilson as a publicist. attacked the
enactment of federal child labor law
as an absurd extravaganza, and &C.
parture from constitutional limitations.
and now within the last 60 days he haa
personally visited Congress TO urge ths
adoption of exactly such measure.
MIR. Wilson, in his address to Congress
and to the public, held up to scorn tn"
idea of the tariff commission to investi-
gate the questions respecting the tariff
as protective measure, saying that
there were a number of bureaus through
which any necessary investigation coul
be made. Since then he has changed his
mind and has urged the adoption OF 4
provision for a tariff commission. In t2e
same way he has changed his views up
on the "anti-dun1ping" provision and up
on free sugar. Indeed after denouncing
tariff for protection as unconstitutional,
we find Mr.. Wilson and the whole Demo-
cratic party ''wobblng' in that direction
Having interviewed by threat and force
in the affairs of the American people MI.
Wilson, in his indianapolis speech, de-
nounced Intervention and declared the
Mexican situation not to be our business,
In his memorandum attached to his
first Sundry Civil bill, Mr.. Wilson pro-
tested against class legislation eXemptinS
farmers and labor organizations from the
operation of the antitrust act. His op
position has since melted away, and he i@
now claiming credit from those who arc
supposed to control the labor vote fc.
having in subsequent legislation taught
the courts something on this subject he
took pride In the new legislation for arpi
tration in labor disputes and now de-
nounces arbitration as inapplicable to the
greatest labor dispute in our history.
Other instances could be cited, but these
are certainly enough to justify the con-
clusion that Mr.. Wilson has few. if any,
opinions on the issues of the day which
exigency in the field of politics may NO,
induce him to give up. He generally par
sues the wise course of never explaining
the reason for his change. His feeling
in this regard robs of special importance
his public uttcrances as a basis for SUP
porting him as a candidate.
On the other hand, Mr.. Hughes is .
man whose avowed opinions have always
been the guide of his action. I say what
the people of the United States know
when l say that the chief characteristic
OF Mr.. Hughes is the courage of his con-
victions in meeting the embarrassment
of political opposition. He gives the rea-
sons for the faith that is in him. He ar
CUES out his propositions. and he does
not depend upon mere facility OF express
sion. mere happiness of epigrammauc
statement. mere graceful phraslhg OF 9
platitude to support his opinion. He car
ries conviction by his speech to his audi
ence and he carries his own conviction
into conduct. His strength before the
people and the importance to them of his
utterances and promises grow out OF cor
fidence that he is not an opportunist, ana
that no political expediency will prevent
his heving to the line and fighting to the
last for his principles. IT has been sala
that there is little difference between Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Hughes except that Mr..
Wilson has had the presidential expert
ence. This is as far as possible from the
fact. Having in view Mr. Wilson's rec
ord on nearly every political question any
Mr. Hughes course rs Governor Of New
York. it would he difficult to find among
the public men of the country, one who Is
,ecs like Mr.. Wilson than Mr.. Hughes.