Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-17

is Such place OF safety as the laws or
humanity contemplate.
What Would the Republicans Have Done:
e OLLOWlNG Mr. iIughcs's belated answer
TO the persistent query. what would YOU
nave donc?" many Republican newspapers
nave sought to impress upon the country the
inspired wisdom that characterized the can
didatc's remarkable hindsight. Unfortunate-
~, they are not in accord Where one up
holds Mr.. 1Iughes's answer as the very acme
OF craftsmanship for one reason another an
plauds ii for another reason. totally at vnri-
ance with that found by it's colaborer in the
Republican vineyard.
AT the outset OF its optimistic discussion of
Mr. Huehes's reply to his Louisville Qucs-
tioher the New York Tribune says:
l"shas in the matter of the Iustani,
to express the belief that had the Ger
the snkns Of TIKI rGWa s, Ia lv"H Would IhS
Ion "W%o r m"tfdX by " ssySrancs Of din
Trained from the crime. The only chance
ma, ,,' IN ere was of preventing this Grim"
m,s 'h tin to murder American citizens
war. The I.usitana massacre was an
act Of war: II could only have n,en
;,vonea by serving notice upon Ger
I I,S nat nat az an ae. of way asans' the
condition of war
To the extent of believing that fore
knowledge OF severance of diplomatic rcla-
tions would not have deferred Germany from
committing the Lusitania crime. we are in
accord with the Tribune. But its two-sided
suggestion that Mr.. Hughcs's looking back
ward policy would have sutiiced Ito establish
the fact in the German mind that to murder
American citizens TO bring the United
States into war. and would. therefore. have
prevented the sinking of the Lusitania is sup
ported neither by reason by the record
Of the Republicans.
Thai Germany was. at that time. ready for
war with this country has already been en-
phasized And what proof. beyond that adj
duced by campaign orators have we that a
Republican administration would have been
willing either To enter into war on that ac-
count or to make Germany believe il would?
There is none. On the contrary. have the
shameful record OF a Republican ma jority
voting TO war;: Americans against taking
passage on ships that traverscd the war zone
But for Democratic votes. the Presidents
hands would have been tied and Germany
given Tree rein i'll its underSea frightfuiness
Leaving what we believe would have been
the certainty OF war quite out OF considera-
ton, the New York Sun says:
,,, When The impsri:,l German Embassy
I" ,mericans not to exercise their right
wold nave sent i for s The ;erma t nn6"s
.,d i, and n"iItisd him ,ha, ,he ,hrea,
aNowed. or we would instantly scvc. re
lat!ons with Germany. Mr.. Hughes
would then have been the precise
pon which Mr. Wilson eventually
reached
Thus. the Sun takes il that a threat TO
sever diplomatic relations would have been
sufficient the Tribune is confident that a
threat To enter into condition OF war
would have been necessary. Neither takes
into accoun, the question OF what the Re-
publicans in Congress would have done in
the light OF what they did do in connection
with the warning resolution With these
irreconcilablc divisions apparent in the Re
publican ranks. the question so often sub
mittcd to MIR. hughes may well be broadcned
so as TO read: What would the Republican
party have done"
California judge has ruled that a man
who drives an automobile with one hand
while his other arm is around "a girl is guilty
OF negligence. Toward whom?
Upheld by Service
q annivcrsa rics are needed 10 remind
Y Richmond OF it's old First Baptist Church
or To inspire It's members and all others who
know its work with pride in its long and
useful career. For scventy-fivc years today
its building has stood s. a monument ~ In.