The Washington herald., 1916-11-08
Republicans Triumphant.

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Under normal conditions the country is Repub-
ican. The returns indicate that the reuniting Of
the former warning elements in the majority
party was success and that there was only one
logical outcome Republican victory.
In the selection of its standard-bearer, the
notable one, marked by independence, sturdy hon
esty and singular devotion to duty from the time
that he stepped into the executive mansion at Al
bany until he discarded the judicial ermne in re-
sponse to an unsought call from his party.
In distinguished career in public life, the in
tegrty and ability of President-elect Hughes
has been questioned The insurance investigation
developed a prominence for Attorney Hughes
that was entirely unsought Faced with difficult
task he met it with the determination that he had
met earlier problems in shaping his career and
against powerful lobby and stupendous pres
sure he forced it through to a successful conclu-
sion
He declined the mayoralty nomination of his
party in New York City and figured again in the
public eye when he was drafted to make the con-
test for chief executive of the great Empire State
wv 11uShCS HiduC nOtdDiC iCSOiu at <hDAny.
1t was principally marked by determination to
eradicate mal-administration and extravaganza
and by an independence of thought and action that
many times ran counter to the wishes of the lead
ers who had worked hard for his success. When
he signed the bill abolishing race-track gambling
prominent and influential leaders of both parties
marked him for political oblivion. He was pro-
vincial and too straight-laced. He was not sus-
ceptible to argument when argument was based
solely on politics.
1t with considerable relief that the New
York leaders saw Gov. Hughes retire from the ac-
tive political arena to take up his duties with the
greatest judicial body in the world. AS Justice
Hughes of the United States Supreme Court he
left record that will be one of the most brilliant
chapters in his career, no matter what he accom-
plishes in the future.
Prior to the Chicago convention, when the
Republican leaders began to cast about for a can
didate to heal the party breach and muster the
united support of the conservative and semi-radi-
cal elements in the Republican army, the name of
Hughes once more came in the limeght
There were other candidates, trained poll
ticians eager to make the fight, backed with un-
limited resources, familiar with the political
chinery of the government, qualified by ability
and training, but largely self-seekers Against
these the Hughes candidacy, spontaneous and
countrywide in its appeal always lowered. Justice
Hughes was nominated
Probably no Republican candidate for Presi-
dent ever faced harder task than that which con-
fronted Mr. Hughes when he rendered his resigna-
ton to Chief Justice White and took up the Re-
publican standard.
President Wilson had guided the country
through serious international complications The
whole nation grateful that we were at peace
and precedents had shown that the nation did not
unseat an Executive while the prospect of strife
foreign or civil was imminent Unprecedented
prosperity ruled the country from the farthest
Maine to sunny California and though Republicans
said there no stability to this era of success
which the country experiencing, still it was
with us, and such conditions were hard to COM
bat
Against the advice of experienced advisers, he
centered his attack on the Adamson eight-hour
bill 1t was not because he was opposed to the
shorter work day for labor, but because he was
fundamentally opposed to legislation by coercion.
His attack in this direction probably was one of
the biggest factors in his election
On other matters he exhibited desire to pick
what he considered the vital problems of the cam
paign. Extracts from his speeches tell the story
better. He has said:
Il now, in this place, without any regard to my
political future say that if ! elected President
propose that every put in charge of an
important department shall be man eminently
fitted to discharge the duties of that department
propose that in the diplomatic service training
shall count for something" Chicago August 81
Il want America first in the hearts of all. l
don't care for America first as a fashion
want it as practice" (Fargo N D., August 1o).
"The constitutional rights of American citizens
protect them on our border and go with them
throughout the world" Baltimore, October 1o)
."I will go to the last fact in ascertaining the
justice of industrial grievance to the end that
labor may be treated fairly 1 will 60 to the last
fact with reference to any business grievance to
the end that capital may be treated fairly, but
will not go an inch for capital or labor before
know what is right" philadelphia, October o..
Il propose to see that far as Executive au-
thority will permit, that have businesslike
budget by which we can understand what we
ought to pay what our comparative needs are
what our income is to satisfy them and by what