The Glenwood post., 1916-11-18
MISTAKES CAUSED DEFEAT

idity lost the presidential election for
the Republicans.
The eastern directors of the party
were afraid to have preparedness and a
strong foreign policy preached in the
pacifist states. Moreover, under the
advice of standpatters of the party,
they refused to recognize the stern me-
cessity of real work among the Progress
sives in western states.
There was money Forthcoming for
campaigning where standpat leaders de-
manded it, and there was precious little
of the same stuff for use where Pro-
gressive leaders demanded it.
In Kansas, for instance, the pacifist
candidate for governor, Capper, was al.
lowed to have his way, and sterling
Americanism was forbidden text in
Sunflowerdom.
Charles Curtis, United States senator
from Kansas. whether he wanted to or
not. was compelled to fall into line with
SdPpti. lht Itdl PICpdTpu-
ness and what it means could not be
preached to the men and women of Kar-
sas.
What happened in Kansas, happened
in other states of the west. The stand
patters did not want Roosevelt to speak
in certain of the states. I.at
They were afraid that he would drive
the pacifist vote away, not so much
from Hughes as from the candidates for
state offices. Their selfishness was
manifest.
Mr.. Roosevelt didn It hurt Illinois any
and, in fact, it is generally believed
that he added thousands of votes to the
ticket. If he had been allowed to speak
in some of the western states, and es-
pecially in California, where it is known
thousands upon thousands of Progress
sives would have been held to Hughes.
Ohio gives the best example of the
bungling, selfishness and the vindic-
tiveness of the old-line Republican leai-
ers. Mr.. Wilson carried Ohio, and SO
did Pomercne, Democratic candidate for
senator, and Cox. Democratic candidate
for governor.
Republican national committeeman
say today that Ohio could have been
saved if the local candidates had
shown one-half the interest in the ma
tional ticket that they showed in trying
to save their own skins.
All old-linc Republicans in the coun-
try were lambasting LaFollette of Wis
consin for not openly supporting the
Republican national ticket.
They had nothing to say against the
standpat Willis of Ohio, who for weeks
almost completely ignored the fact that
Hughes was running for the presidency,
and during the time devoted his whole
efforts to the attempt to elect himself.
Nearly all the Republican congress
men in Ohio voted for the Adamson
law. They proved to be towards in
congress, and they proved to be cow
ards in the campaign. At the outset
word came from Ohio and from many
other states that no Republican speak
er must attack the Adamson law.
/ Later when it was found that the
Adamson law was a real issue and that
hundreds of thousands of voters might
be won to the Republican ranks by a
true exposition of the iniquities of the
law, some of the timid ones suddenly
became brave and urged that the Ad-
amson action be attacked. 1t was too
late.
If the Progressive leaders in th,
west had been given the proper sup
port by the eastern managers, sup
port that was urged by the western
managers, Utah, Wyoming and severa l
other western states today doubtless
would be in the Republican column.