The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-10

be acceptable to the rank and file OF
either section. The ablest statesman
of them all, he lacked moral stamina.
Herrick had some attractive traits
but he belonged to Mark Hanna's
ring and was stepped in Hanna's polit-
ical methods. Sherman of Illinois was
a likely candidate but he could not
marshal his following in the conven-
ton. Roosevelt turned out to be i'm
possible. 1t was Hughes or nobody.
The compelling argument urged in
behalf of Hughes was that he had
never antagonized the colonel; and
equally important, he had never
antagonized any of the repub-
lican bosses. He was believed to be
an opportunist and opportunists are
often successful politicians. But it is
recalled that Hughes as governor of
New York was usually at cross pur-
poses with his party and that being so
could accomplish little in the way of
his pet reforms. He found it next to
impossible to put through" any leg
islation. He had told the electorate
what he would do, but when he was
installed in the executive office he was
well nigh powerless, so far as con-
structive bills were concerned.
1t would be the same thing If Mr..
Hughes should be elected President.
The one or two measures that he is
advocating noisily on the stump would
stand no chance whatever of being
written on the statute books.
Wilson went into office with stu
pendous legislative programme. He
set himself to a herculean task
greater than any task undertaken by
any President since Lincoln. Some of
Wilson'S measures were unpopular
and were opposed by strong men in his
own party, but he now sees most of his
policies crystallized or crystallizing
into law.
Mr.. Hughes lacks constraining force
and lacks a great many other qualities
that go to make up statesman. One
Of his conspicuous weaknesses is the
habit of stressing small matters. His
of some of Wilson's appoint
ments suggests peanut politics. And
the worst of it is that Mr.. Hughes
takes hearsay evidence about the dis
tribution of federal patronage. Any
lawyer, especially former associate
Justice, should make sure of his facts.
AS the presidential contest now
stands Wilson will score signal vic
tory in November.
THE national defense programme,
J. undertaken as the salient fea-
ture Of the Sixty-fourth Congress,
will soon be an accomplished fact. The
army bill carrying an appropriation
Of s267, 900 was adopted yester-
day and was laid on the Presidents
desk for his
Congress Does Well signature. Ad-
for Preparedness mi istra ton
lea ers have
won their fight for authorization by
Congress of the navy building pro-
gramme calling for an expenditure
during the next three years of ap-
proximately 100000, a total for
army and navy of approximately
$685., 100000
When President Wilson began to
discuss this country's unpreparedness
for war and urge immediate steps for
national security, many congressman
were either alarmed or indifferent to
the subject, and those who favored
larger army and larger and better
navy had no idea of voting for huge
appropriation. Senator Underwood
was not listed with the big army men
or the big navy men. With his char
acteristic dry humor, when public
sentiment was being developed in re-
Spouse to the Presidents appeal,
Underwood said: "Well, if the people
want preparedness they will have to
pay for it," He meant by that remark
that the maintenance of a standing
army and the building of large navy
are very costly Injuries. Still he came
around to view the question as the
majority of patriotic citizens did,
If $685., 200, 900 seems to the Ameri-
can people vast sum for putting the
United States in position to defend
itself it is bagatelle in the eyes of
Europe. Ample preparedness makes
for peace. While it does not insure
peace, unpreparedness invites foreign
attack.
The Sixty-fifth or Sixty-sixth Con-
crosses will not be expected to make
large appropriations, but the Sixty