New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-13
HUGHES HITS
AT PRESIDENT
ON LUSITANIA
A Firm Stand Would
Have Prevented
Outrage

rFrom a stat Correspondent Of The Tnbunsl
Louisville, Oct. 12.-Warnings, such
as were issued before the Lusitsnia
was sunk, would have been answered
by Hughes as President, he declared to-
day, in terms so unmistakable that the
ship would not have been torpedoed.
The government issuing such warnings,
he said, would have been given to un-
derstand that friendly relations could
not continue if the threat was carried
out
The vsunted campaign question was
fred at Mr.. Hughes in the midst of
one of the most riotous and discrderly
meetings that any candidate for Pres
ident ever faced. Phoenix Hill Park
Hall was crammed. Mr.. Hughes had
given a Democratic heckler a forth
right answer to q question concern
ing his veto of the two-cent railroad
faro bill in New York.
Gets Hearing for Heckler
"The path of peace is the path of
self-respect," he had started to say a
few seconds later, (which maintains
the dignity of our citizenship and ce-
ments the friendship Of all nations"
An individual in a fag-draped bal
cony leaned far over the rail and
shouted:
Justice Hughes, just moment,
please. Permit a respectful inter-
luption. What would you have
done"-- (Cries of "Put him out!"
interrupted the questioner.)
"Please let the question be asked"
insisted Mr.. Hughes. II desire this
question to be asked. Please ask ,t?"
II ask you with all respect that
know, what you would have done, when
the Lusitsnia was sunk7 See If you
can answer this"
Would Have Had Respect
The crowd jeered. Mr.. Hughes
silenced them. Then said:
az will answer this-now, permit me
to answer it-permit me to answer it.
Sir, would have had the State De-
partment, at the very beginning OF the
Administration, so equipped as to COM
mand the respect of the world"
The crowd yelled approval. He con-
tirued, despite the bedlam:
Kindly wait till l get through, and
do not interrupt with applause until
have answered the gentleman's ques-
ton. have said that would have had
the State Department equipped so as to
command the respect Of the world at
the outset OF the Administration; and,
next, would have so conducted affairs
in Mexico as to show that our words
meant peace and good will, to the pro-
lection at all events of the lives and
property OF American citizens.
"And next, and next-when | said
strict accountability every nation
would have known that that was meant;
and, further, when notice was pup
lshed with respect to the action threat
ened, | would have made II known IN
terms unequivocable and unmistakaole
that we should not tolerate contlnu-
ance of friendly relations through the
ordinary diplomatic channels II that
action were taken; and the Lusitania,
sir, would never have been sunk.
The tumult that greeted his state
ment almost broke up the meeting. IL
was minutes before he could go on
with his speech. The man in the bal
cony was almost mobbed.
Attacks New Freedom"
Mr.. Hughes assailed President wilson's
net theory, "The New Freedom" tonight
He interpreted it in turn in the light
of each of the principal activities OF
the Democratic administration. In tne
massage of the Adamson railroad wage
bill. Mr.. Hughes declared. the Wilson
doctrine became "The new slavery
government by hold-up."
Phoenix Hill Hall, crowded with thou-
sands of persons who had waited hours
for the Republican nominee to arrive,
rang with applause of his review OF
"the surprising and deplorable range"
nj "the new freedom" When he had
completed the category he held up his
hands and asked:
"Where shall this stop?"