Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-04
THE MAN AND THE PARTY FOR
THE CRISIS

PAcK of all the specific reasons that
have been advanced for the election
of Mr.. Hughes lies the basic fact that he is
offered 10 the country as tho represen.
tativo and leader Of the most efficient
agent OF government which this nation
has known for more than fifty years.
The issue is whether the Republican
party or the Democratic party shall be
in control in Washington in the grave
crisis that is to follow the close Of the
war.
Problems will arise which will test the
statesmnnship OF the best minds in public
life. Our political relations with the rest
of the world will have TO be readjusted.
and our commercial relations are likely
TO be reduced to such a state OF chaos
as has never before been known. 1t is
OF the first importance that the men in
charge in Washington be in hearty and
tect American rights Of whatever char.
acter and that they be equipped with
knowledge Of the situation and ability to
master II. No little men whose thinking
has been tinctured for years with the
belief that all big enterprises are based
on the Illicit use OF power. and that all
men engaged in the large commercial af-
fairs OF the nation are crooks can meas
ure up to the needs OF the times.
II is unfortunately true that the De-
mocracy is the party OF hostility TO great
enterprises. Mr.. Bryan rode TO leader
ing interests OF the country, which were
charged with the purpose OF crucifying
mankind on a cross of gold. Business In
terests. regardless Of party. in the East
and West, the North and the South. COM
bined for the defeat OF Mr.. Bryan. He
ought 10 have been buried under an
avalanche OF votes 80 deep that no one
could have dug him out. but his party
was so thoroughly impregnated with the
heresies which he preached that McKin.
iey's majority was only about 100000.
II had been hoped that IN the inter-
vening years the Democracy had learned
the error OF it's ways. Mr.. Wilson. him
self, talked about knocking Mr.. Bryan
into cooked hat. His election in 1919
was hailed as the end OF Bryanism: that
Is. the end OF the control OF the party by
| the demagogneS who sought to ride into
power by stirring up class hatred and
arraying the poor and unfortunate against
| the fortunate and the successful. But
those who cherished that hope have been
disappointed. Mr.. Wilson has been in
close contact with the leaders Of his party
for the last four years. He has discov.
cred their temper. He has learned that
the feeling which Bryan sensed 90 well
stili persists. and that there is no hope
for his success In November unless he
indorses now the things he condemned
when he felt free TO say what he thought
His Long Branch speech ought TO de-
stroy whatever hope the country may
have harbored that he can be trusted to
protect the commercial interests Of the
nation IN the next four years. The can
vass which has already begun Is disclos
ing ths same revolt among sound-think
ing Democrats that characterized ths
1895 campaign. They are unwilling "a
trust their own party when national pros.
perity and commercial honor are At stake
even n they are willing TO accept VIII
sonian methods In international politics.
II there were not a compelling reason
for the triumph Of the Republicans In IN.
character and record Of Mr.. Hughes. n
exists IN the character and capacity ol
the party vhoss policies ~ = plsdssd q