The Alaska citizen., 1916-11-06

people they would have gone to war with Mexico when the irresponsible brigands of that country were wear ing our patience to the verge of eX- haustion. They have not dared to plainly declare they would have sev- cred diplomatic relations with Ger many over the Lusitania affair. They have not been frank and truthful over these and other diplomatic diff faculties, because they know the peo- pie of the United States do not want war with either Germany or Mexico so long as peace with honor can be maintained. And so we have the spectacle of these two distinguished me.., as one Outside newspaper puts it, developing into common scolds"- resorting to bitter personalities-us- ing unjustly the epithet ."coward"- and otherwise degrading clean poli- ties by methods one would think Chas E. Hughes. at least. would be ashamed of.
 On the other hand. Mir Wilson is making a canvass of the country
 that may we'll win the admiration of all his friends. He does not feel 1t necessary to assail the character or purpose of Mir. hushee or any other political rival. It rather seems his desire to present a plain state ment to the American people-setting forth clearly the import of the work he has accomplished and permit them to decide whether that work has been good or bad.
 Those who hope for his reelection may find much encouragement in the attitude of support of such men as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and H. C. Hansbrough. of North Dakota. The Hon. Mir Hansbrough. after eighteen years service as Repub- lican senator, has bolted MT. Hughes and is strenuously supporting MT. Wilson because he thinks our Presi- dent more than any other public man today represents the principles so conspicuously exemplified In the statesmanship of Abraham Lincoln, which Is proven by the fact that he stands, above all else. for the rights of the plain people; for fair and just administration of our laws, in defiance of any special interest or privileged class. It is not within the discuss the numerous legislative mea- sures that have been passed by Con- gress in the last four years that bear the impress of MT. Wilson's mind. But we would like to mention one of recent date that was instrumental in gaining for him the indorsement of such men as MT. Hansbrough of North Dakota. On August 29th MT Wilson went before Congress and asked that legislative body to draft and pass statute that would legalize an eight-hour working day for the railway employees of the United States. This was done, 1t is true, after he had invited the Presidents and Managers of the railroads to visit Washington that he might con- fer with them as to a settlement of their differences with the Railroad Brotherhoods, who were at the time on the verge of what would have been a most disastrous strike. This great combination of capitalists lis tened to the Presidents earnest ap- peal for arbitration unmoved; and then brazenly informed him they had nothing to arbitrate. It must be re- membered these officials were not only the managers and controllers of our Trunk Line railroads, but most of them were owners and directors in nearly every powerful financial in- stitution In our country, and 1t Is not difficult to understand that 1t must have required a rare degree of moral courage for any public man to face this threatening aggregation of capital and demand of them fair play for the workers in their employ MT Wilson did this, not because 1t would increase his popularity, but because 1t was right. But 1t did add to his popularity, and now his political enc mics contend that his stand in this particular matter was all carefully thought out political move. They would have us believe that he is really one of the, most cunning and astute politicians that ever guided the destinies of the Democratic par ty. Very we'll, let us waste no words to disprove this contention, but rather indulge the hope that our country may be blessed with greater num- Der of politicians of such calbre as Woodrow Wilson.