New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-15
Disloyal Activity Must
Be Crushed, Says
President.
DRAFTS PLANK
FRAMING ISSUE
Democrats to Bid for
Moose Support by
Hyphen Challenge.
Iron rss rrislns Bureau J

Washington, June 14.-Presidene
Wilson charged to-day that foreign
born citizens Of the United States
were trying to levy political black
mail and 10 undermine the influence
Of the national government.
The President spoke at the Flag
Day exercises at the Washington
Monument. But his words were con-
strued as a direct challenge 10 ex-
Justice Hughes and the Republicans
to repudiate the Hyphen vote.
Spoken on the eve Of his own re-
nomination at st. Louis, the Presi-
dents words were interpreted as
throwing down the gage Of the cam
paign. In unmistakable terms they
outlined what he considered the over
shadowing issue.
Crisis Like Civil War.
The crisis brought about by this
Hyphen activity, the President de-
clared, was even greater than that
Of the Civil War. Then, in neither
North nor South, were our institu-
tions imperilled. Now, the very 10y
atty TO these has been undermined,
President Wilson said, by small
minority who divided their allegiance
with foreign powers.
"There is disloyalty active in the
United States. and it must be abso-
lutely crushed" the President de-
clared.
"It proceeds from a minority, =
very small minority, but very ac-
tive and subtle minority.
1T works underground, but II also
shows its ugly head where We can
see il; and there are those at this
moment who are trying TO levy
species of political blackmail, saying,
DO what We wish in the interest Of
foreign sentiment or we will wreak
our vengeance at the polls"
4 Challenge TO Hughes.
As the President uttered these words
his voice became slow and measured, as
though he wished 10 emphasize 20 the
full their challenge.
Nor was there one among the thou
sands who gathered at the monument.
after the hot and firing preparedness
parade, in which the President himself
had marched on foot, that did not
understand their meaning. They left
no doubt in the mind OF any hearer
that Mr.. Wilson intended 20 attack the
Republican nominee as the agent of
hyphenism until Mr.. Hughes definitely
repudiated the Teuton alliances which
have been pledging him their support
The setting well emphasized the
seriousness with which the Presiden,
spoke. The monument in its simple.
rigorous grandeur. the broad. quiet
majesty Of the park stretching OF 10
the Potomac, lent additional impress
siveness TO his words.
Calls Most Aliens Loyal.
Dwelling upon the test o, the nation
applied in the Ciyal War. from the
wounds which had arisen newer and
finer loyalty 20 the ideal Of America.
the President declared that a new
crisis must be faced.
"A new sort Of division has sprung
up amongst U.s." he said. II believe
that the vast majority OF those men
whose lineage is directly derived from
the nations now AZ war are just q.
loyal 20 the flag OF the United states
as any native citizen OF this beloved
land, but there are some men OF that
extraction who are not, and they not
only in past months, but al the present
time, are doing their best 70 under
mine the influence OF the government
or tne nltcu oAdkes III lNo lHbcAcss "
matters which are foreign TO us and
which are no, derived from the ques-
tions Of our own politics"
The Presidents words gave the first
intimstion that the main Democratic
issue was TO be on the hyphens. Nf.
Wilson, like Mr. Hughes, has repeatedly
affirmed his belief in "Ameriesnism.
But until to-day he had not gone A.
far as Colonel Roosevelt IN condemn
ing the interference OF alliances OF for
eign born citizens in politics.
Draft "Americanism" Plank
Following the outline Of the rre'i
dents speech. an "Amerieanism p'A's
telegraphed tonight for insertion
the Democratic platform at ST. Lou''
This. il is believed. Sill be part o. we
attempt TO wip over the Progressive,
The plank, IS it was approved 0'