The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-12
President Will Ask Hughes How He Would Have Handled Foreign Ques- tiOns Differently
GERMAN VOTE TO BE
 HURTFUL TO HUGHES
 INSTEAD OF AN AID
Labor Men Are Also Of- tended by Several of Hughes Decisions-COm- ments Made Yesterday

? Alabama democrats are not disturbed over the nomination of Justice Charles E.. Hughes by the republican convention at Chicago and the action of the .progres- sives in naming Roosevelt, according to opions expressed by leading men here yesterday
 The opinion seems to be that President Wilson will be reelected despite the re- puted strength of the former member of the supreme court
 The action of Colonel Roosevelt in toy- Ing with the progressive nomination all. week, and finally in practically declin- ing to accept the honor, is considered bv local democrats as being altogether to the advantage of the President. They contend that Roosevelt, should he decline the nomination, as now seems proba ble, Will oHend~the majority of the members or the third party, and that the demo- cratic standard bearer will poll the larger portion of this vote which favored the colonel in the last presidential campaign.
 FAILED TO NAME REMEDY
 Considerable relief was felt by local democrats at the statement sissued by Justice Hughes when he accepted the nom lantion. It was pointed out that while he criticised the policies of President Wr- son in his relations with foreign coun- tr1es the justice failed to state wherein he would have acted differently.
 It is claimed that in practically all their talk about Wilson's failure to meas ure up to the requirements in the matter fba usually failed to state what they would have done under the same circumstances. That the President will let them go through the campaign without being spe- cific and telling what they would have done under the existing conditions is not considered probable and it is thought that no matter what position they take, they will not be able to make any capi- tal out of the foreign relations of this country and the manner in which the diff ferent tasks confronting the administra- tion have been handled.
 GERMANS MAY HURT HUGHES
 The fact that Hughes was the tentative candidate of the German-Americans is considered as a favorable augury for President Wilson as it is claimed that the people of the United States will not at this critical time in the nations history allow any force which seeks to exert foreign control over the government have any weight in national affairs. It is fur thef contended that the labor clements In the north and east are just as strong against Hughes for his record on the bench as they were four years ago against Taft. That they were able to deliver votes in opposition to Taft was shown by the results.
 Whatever might be the criticism of the republicans against the foreign policy of Wilson, it is pointed out by local demo- crats that the President has suited the majority of the American people in that, he has upheld the honor of the nation and at the same time has kept out of war. That this was the wish of the great majority of the people is the contention of leading men here who claim that the United States not only did not want and did not need war, but was unprepared for a conflict.
 M'NEEL FEELS CONFIDENT
 Justice Hughes may be able to put up hard fight, but I see no reason why President Wilson should not defeat him." declared John D. McNeel, collector of in- ternal revenue and one of the best post ed men on national politics in Alabama
 The republicans have been doing much talking lately about the failure of the ad- ministration in it's foreign relations but am not inclined to think they can make any capital out of that fact. You will ob- serve that practically all the critics of the administration content themselves With saying that Wilson has made a fail ure. None of them are willing to point out wherein he has done what they would not have done or wou1o not have in- dorsed
 At the proper time the President will, of course, call on them to state what their ideas are and you will doubtless find that they cannot show any grave error in his actions.
 Hughes is known as the candidate of the German-Americans and that is going to be one of the big stumbling blocks in his path. The people of the United States at this time, are not going to vote for any man who is favored by an element which wants to have a foreign govern ment dictate our policies. I cannot un- derstand how Roosevelt can afford to in- dorse Hughes, who is the candidate actively supported by the German-Ameri- cans, and l. do not believe his followers will go with him, even if he does indorse Hughes.
 TOYED WITH PROGRESSIVES
 Roosevelt has toyed with the progress sives and used them for week in an