Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-23
Taking His Measure.

Here are two meaty comments on the candidacy
OF Mr.. Hughes-one by the Springfield (Mass.) Re-
publican, which is independent. the other by the
New York Tribune, an avowed partisan of his
cause. Says the Republican:
Attractive as he is in many respects, it
would be idle to ignore the fact that Mr..
Hughes will be exposed to handicaps in the
contest for popular favor. His own utterances
concerning the undesirability of "raiding" the
United States Supreme Court for a presidential
candidate will be used against him, perhaps
with considerable effect. As the months pass,
too and Candidate Hughes attacks the record
of President Wilson, it may be awkward for
him to meet effectively the taunt that he has
been able to wait years in safe seclusion to see
how far events had justified his opponents
actions and policies before expressing public
opinion concerning them. Possibly public
opinion in such contest would go to the
sponsible official who often had been obliged
to reach decisions overnight on the most mo-
mentous issues
When the Republican candidate assails the
Presidents foreign policies. the country well may
iask-What would your party have done in his
place? Would you have precipitated W.T.? Would
you have been less vigorous and firm in the con-
duct of the submarine issue? Has not the Wilson
administration indicated American rights, and at
the same time preserved the countrys peace?
wherein would you have acted differently. and
what happier results could you have accomplished?
While Mr. Hughes sat aloof on the bench a mere
observer of international affairs. Mr.. Wilson was in
the teeth OF the tempest. graphing with problems
land dangers such as other President ever faced
The country will not dismiss leader who has
guided it safely through the storm for one who
can merely criticise and complain.
The New York Tribune stanchIy and bitterly
Republican, declares that it wants TO see Mr.
Hughes elected" and sis anxious to do all that it
can to contribute to his victory" But it adds
with cutting significance:
THE trouble with such statement as Mr..
Hughes made, pledging himself to 'out-and-
out AmeriCanism lies in the fact that it is
precisely the sort of statement that has been
coming from GeTman-Americans who cheered
the sinking of the Lustania, with equal eager
ness proclaimed themselves loyal Americans
and denounced the lack of patriotism of the
women and children who got in the way of the
German submarine Many months ago this
newspaper said: 1T would be better for the
Republican party TO indorse Woodrow Wilson
in 1916 than to permit the principle to be
established that 20 defend American interests
is to commit political suicide The Tribune
meant that July &c. 1915 and it means it
on June Il. 1915"
There is no denying the fact that the Repub-
iican partly is the rendezvous of those Hyphen
forces who have sought to divide the American
people who have conspired against American in
dustries ard laws and who now trying to de-
feat an American President because he dared to
stand unswervingy for the rights and honor of the
United States Mr.. Hughes is the adopted candi-
date of Hyphenism and his party is its willing in
EtrumenL