Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-08-10
NOTED AUTHORS
QUIZ HUGHES
Prominent Professional Writ
ers Ask Republican Nominee
to Make His Position Clear
PERTINENT QUESTIONS
Put Up to Candidate, Charging
He Has Not Offered Single
Constructive Suggestion


a committee of distinguished Ameri-
can writer's, the executive group Of
which met in New York Wednesday
at the Hotel Biltmore, George Creel
gave out the following open letter:
ITO the Honorable Charles E.
Hughes:
THE professional writer's who sign
this letter have small interest in par
ties, but very deep interest in demo-
cracy. 1t is our hope, through this
voluntary association, to assist in the
promotion of honest, educational dis
cussiOn in order that fundamental is
sues may not be decided in prejudice
and ignorance.
"Mr. Wilson's beliefs have been eX-
pressed in law and in declared poll
cies. He has made an open record
by which he may be judged. Wise
choice is not possible unless you your
self make equally specific statement
of purposes and convictions.
without intent to offend, we feel
justified in charging that in no single
public utterance have you filed bona
fide bill of particulars, nor have you
offered single constructive sugges-
tion. Generalities are without value;
blanket criticism Is worthless.
Specific Statement Asked
What we desire to know, what it
is fair that the electorate should know,
are the exact details of your disagree
ment with President Wilson. What
has he done that you would not have
done, and what has he failed to do
that you would have done or propose
to do? Honesty and patriotism de-
mand that you put yourself on record
in such manner as to permit people
to Judge you as they are now able to
Judge President Wilson. For ex.
ample
"1-Would you have filed instant
protest against the invasion of Bel
the United States navy?
"2-It is arrant nonsense to talk
about action that would have prevent
ed the Lusitania tragedy. The vague
advertisement did not appear until
shortly before the hour of sailing. The
occurrence was one of those things
hot twill hoe %ha
regard as incredible. The only hon
est question is this: Would you have
broken relations with Germany at
once?
"3-Would you have urged upon Con-
gress an embargo upon the shipment
of munitions to the allies?
"4-Would you urge universal COM
pulsory military service? r-
Questioned as to Huerta
"5-You are frank in stating that
Huerta's morals were of no concern
to America does this mean that you
would have recognized Huerta?
Gas matters stand today, would
you be in favor of intervening in Mex
leo?
"7-Does your attack upon the Will
son shipping bill mean that you are
in favor of ship subsidies?
"8-YOu speak enthusiastically of
the rights of the worker. Does this
imply that you endorse the Clayton
antitrust law and the seamen's bill?
Or will you urge their repeal?
"9-What are your specific COM
plants against the federal reserve
law?
"10-As governor of New York, you
opposed the income tax amendment;
does this antagonism persist? Do you
or do you not believe in paying for
preparedness out of tax on incomes,
inheritances and munitions?
1--WE agree with you that it is "crit-
ical PERIOD by far too critical indeed
for candidates to talk in terms of
office-seeking rather than in the sim.
pie, earnest language of definite
Americanism.
Respectfully, (signed)
Samuel Hopkins Adams, Ray STAN
nard Baker, Ellis Parker Butler, l..
Ames Brown, Dante Baron, Irwin Cobb;
Wadsworth Camp, ]. O'Hara Cosgrave,
Frederick C. Howe, ellison Gardner,
Stoughton Cooley, William L. Chen
cry, George Creel, James Forbes,
Frederick Stuart Greene, Oliver Her.
ford, Prof. Louis Johnson, Richard
Lloyd Jones, Peter B. Kyne, Percy
MacKaye, A. J. McKelway, Basil Man.
ley, Meridith Nicholson, Albert Jay
Mock, Harvey j. OHiggins. Charles
Johnson Post, Eugene Manlove Rhodes
William Mcleod Raine, Boardman
Robinson, John Reed, Opie Read. Ed
gar Selwyn, VIM. Leavitt Stoddard,
Lincoln Steffins, Augustus Thomas,
Frank Y. ROOman. George West.