The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-21
BIG BUSINESS BLUNDERED

Among business men of San Francisco Seattle and other Pacific Coast points the opinion prevails that a grave bunder made by the big business inter ests of the country in trying force the defeat of Wilson. non-partsan business proposition through the use money and through on the smaller business men and on laboring classes It is claimed that there was raised Wall Street by representa- tives of "big business" institution. nearly a million and Q half of dollars, and this was used in the doubtful States. socalled. of the Middle West to
 put Hughes over" and thus encompass the defeat Of Wilson Those who take the position that all this was bunder say that President Wilson has not been unfriendy to legitimate business. He has not been demogogic. He has encouraged the development or American trade industry and commerce in every leg1- innate manner. He has been fair He has not been the President of particular class He has conSult ed those of all classes and insisted upon deal for all of them Therefore they say. it is unfortunate that there should have been such division of the people at the polls that credit for the election of President Wilson is now being claimed as victory for class or section It is stated that 97 per cent of organized labor throughout the United States sup ported President Wilson The result is that the labor ing people-those of them who believe in class dis tinctons-clam that credit for the reelection of the Pr sident belongs their class Credit for the cleo ton is also claimed by the West and the claim ad- vanced as that of a sectional West, West in contra distinction from and antagonistc to the East.
 This is an unfortunate condition It is ufOrtu- nate because it was so unnecessary It is claimed by those competent to judge that but for the nonparti- san attack by "big business the President at the very last of the campaign Wilson would have carried several of the Eastern and Middle Western States. Business men had no quarrel with the President, and he was popualr in the East He had been fair both to business and the East, and therefore, there was no good reason why big business" should have rsked defeat in class and sectional struggle in order to beat him No good can from sectional or class strife in the United states-and particularly can no good come to the business interests of the country from it.
 However there IS this much that is favorable to the situation: President Wilson has never shown any disposition to be vndctive vengeful. He will probably continue go along and be fair to those of all classes and all sections. Of course, the raising of class and sectional issues by others will make it more difficult for him to accomplish as much for democracy-a condition that recognizes no class or secton-than it otherwise would have been. But President Wilson never shuns difficult tasks and it is not likely that he will change his policy now He will, in spite of the class and sectional demands for reprisas continue to be the President of all classes and all sections even though less patriotic men may be able to keep alive sectional and class warfare on account of the class and sectional efforts of Wall street in the recent election.