The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-21
THE PEOPLE KNOW
PRESIDENT WILSON

President Wilson will make no
swing around the states. His accep-
lance speech was made at his summer
home and may be supplemented from
time to time by appropriate short ad-
dresses. These will enable the people
to keep in sufficiently close touch with
his views upon issues that may arise
or plans that may be devised or con-
ditions that may develop.
This plan of campaigning is in keep
ing with the lofty dignity of his high
office. Besides, the great masses OF
the people of the country are already
familiar with the achievements of his
administration purposes and
their already developed results.
For four years he has been the CEN
trail figure of Aemrican politics. The
fierce light of publicity all the while
has beaten upon him and his acts.
Publicity has been given to his every
utterance, to his every deed. II he
has made blunders, the people have
had their abundant opportunity to
know and to consider them. If he has
been guilty of Inconsistencies, he has
avowed them and they as we'll as his
avowals have been given to the world.
If he has rendered loyal and unceas-
ing service, that has been shown.
If he has taken seriously and with
all his energy to the sacred task en-
trusted to him four years ago, the vot-
ers know it. If he has burned mid
night oil in his study Of the tremen-
dous and unforeseen problems which
have confronted him as they have con-
fronted no other president, that, too,
is known.
If he has at times differed with his
party leaders, the public has been
promptly advised. II he has kept the
faith, the public knows it. If he has
shown patience and tact and states
lmanship, no speeches from him are
needed to enlighten the country.
If he has been bold when holiness
was demand, diplomatic when greater
results could be secured tE diplomacy
than by impetuosity. they who are to
decide the coming contest, know it.
If he has kept the country out Of a
war, the tragedies of which no man
could overestimate, they know it.
If he has fortified the country by a
vast scheme of preparedness, they
know 1t.
If he maintained his country's hon
or, unsullied and above reproach, and
its respect acknowledged by the world,
they know it.
If he has been callous to the attacks
of political enemies or captious critic
for self or party advancement, they
know it.
If he has shown his own and the
country's sympathies with those who
must suffer from the raging conflicts
that are holding civilization in state
of mazed horror, they know it.
If he wishes no unfair advantage to
come to his own people from the ca
.!smities Of those Of other lands, they
know it.
If he has brought to his country out
of these dire conditions such a pros
perity as no nation in all history has
achieved, they know it. II by the
legislation has espoused, he has
helped all classes of our people, those
who labor and those who loaf, has
given equality in all honest endeavor
to the former and stimulus and ener-
gy to the latter, they know it.
If the nation today is rallying to
loftier ideals than ever before sue
cessfully appealed to it, they know it.
Therefore, and in all confidence Of
a vote of approval by the country, he
is resting his case upon his deeds, the
character he has shown, the policies
he has advocated; and will leave the
use of words to those who are his OPP
ponents in this campaign.-Orlando
Sentinel.