The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-06-30
Washington Is Surgii,g
With Excitement Over
Presidential Campaign

y -
about adequate preparedness and other
civic matters, which at this time, are
more OF less political
Republicans Have Strong Man
10 With characteristic American direct
ness, everyone almost is asking him
self and all his friends which Of the
candidates viii win. No intelligent mai
can answer that question positively
just nowi Indications may not be clear
for a long time and, perhaps, not till
election day.
Former Justice Hughes will appeal
strongly TO the intellectual voter. Il
remains to be seen whether the Amer
lean bar which is n large factor il
shaping better class sentiment, will al
together improve the selection of pc,
litical candidate from the supreme
bench. Some, at least, will insist thai
thai tribunal should not be invaded by
politics. Traditions for more than on
hundred years have been against such
invasiens, although at least two justices
in the yeurs agone, have had presiden'
tial aspirations. Then Mr.. Hughes has
been out Of politics for six years and
has not been Identified with the stress
full .doings of the eventful interim. He
was a wonderful campaigner of the
higher type in his political days and
can be trusted to make a strong cam
paign. ~ e.
Country Il Normally Republican
| 1t is charged that the Republicans
have no worth. while issues, beyond
their eRgerness to get back into federal
authority and that Justice Hughes is
much the same kind Of man as Presi-
dent Wilson, whom he is now seeking
to displace. Ordinarily, the American
people do not turn n good official out
on the mere criticism of his opponents
who have no popular reforms to inau-
gurate. But in the older days, at least;
the country was normally Republican
end il it be possible TO bring about q
thorough reunion of Republicans and
Progressives, Mr.. Hughes would ap-
pnrently have the advantage, even
though it involves "swapping horses'
while crossing o stream.
President Wilson, Of course, will
stand on his record His negotiations
with Germany and also with Great BiT-
tain VIII be, defended on the ground
that all, in all he has done well and
kept the country out of the European
War. The Germa n. Americans, most of
whom are Republicans, are against him
and APPARENTLY will give rousing vote
to Hughes. But there is danger to Re-
publicans in catering to this German
American element, lest they lend color
to former President Roosevelt protest
against eleeting as President a vice
roy to the German Emperor. Some of
the fine maneuvPring of the campaign
may be expected over this point De-
mOcrats will also have much to say on
the favorite American ma kim of letting
well enough alone and about "peace,
plenty and prosperity" The full din
ner pail has been a winning Repub-
lican slogan in many a national cam
paign of formeT days and 90 peace,
plenty and prosperity" rolls pleasant
- ly off the popular tongue. There is a
great record of substantial achievement
as well as of tactful administration in
very troublous times behind President
Wilson 1t probably will win him many
Republican votes while his record
for doing progressive things and stand
ing for progressive men and measures
may win him quite percentage of dis
gruntled Progressives who were shock
ed because Roosevelt seems disposed
! 10 return 10 the putty, "hhN
himself solid with his former collea.
CUES, and let slide some of the things
he bottled so valiantly for in 1912
Both Sides Optimistic
At present both sides are very Opt
' mistic and expect to win. At the same
time all professional politicians arc
ware that the advantage one way OF
the other may be narrow margin
rhe energy of the first week or two
after the conventions will not be sus
tained. July and August will be of
months BY that time Congress viii
have adjourned. The national commit
tees of the respective parties will have
organized thoroughly and for the last
two months Of the campaign during
September and October), the country
will be in the throes of determining
who shall control the White House anC
,lso the national house of representa-
tivrs after March 4, 1917, the dat'
when the new administration will begin
There will also be n struggle over the
he senate but there the Democrat
ave an advantage because of thei
large majority and the fact that only
one third of the senate is elected TIM
autumn.
OF courAa it will be extensively ar
gucd that to refuse President Wilson
mother term would be TO discredit Uni
ted States in the eyes of the word ant
lumiIute all the people before nation
Of Europe 1t will also be said tina
w experienced man is needed at tn
I helm during the years that follow tn
s Europ"3n war and THAT no one is bette
5 qualified by performance and expeT
\ fence than President Wilson. This viii
q have weight with a considerable con
p tingcnt Of voters. Against it will b.
o the Republican argument that hare
= times must be expected after the wa
: if Democrats remain in power anC
h pocket nerves are extremely sensitiv
I all over the Union. "Peace, plenty ant
, prosperity" may not allay the appre
, tensions of business men and factor.
n rmul"vos- again it may.