The Washington herald., 1916-06-27
Back to the G. O. P.

The chief asset of the Democracy four years
ago was formally restored to the holdings OF
the Republicans yesterday Theodore Roosevelt
who made possible the installation of the present
government in Washington, pronounces
that government utterly incompetent and calls
upon his followers to work with him for its re-
moval. The Endorsement of Mr.. Hughes by the
Progressive National Committee followed as
matter of course. Even had it adopted some
other course it would hardly have made
any material difference now that Col Roosevelt
for the nations welfare as he sees it, has de-
clined to lead its ticket. Those who followed
him away from the Republican party will, almost
to a man, follow him back to it. He created the
Progressive party in day; he can as quickly
dissolve it. The Democrats now must go into the
fight with political lines normally divided. When
they add Col Roosevelts 1912 vote to that OF
Mr.. Taft and compare the result with the vote
for President Wilson, and when they con-
template the prospect that they will have three
such campaigners as Mr.. Hughes, Col Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft in the field against them they
will realize the demands that victory will make
of them.
Severely as Col Roosevelt arraigns the ad
rninstration for folly and failure, his letter de-
cining the Progressive nomination is more tenn
perate in tone than many of his utterances prior
to the conventions but for that it will carry no
less weight. His explanation of the aims and
purposes of the Progressive party since its in
ception and OF his own course before and after
the Chicago conventions is convincing. 1t should
have the effect OF silencing most of his critics,
and it is not at all difficult to imagine him upon
4 peak of popularity before the close OF a
campaign to which he may be expected to give
his most earnest effort for no selfish motive
but for what he believes to be his country's good
He offers fulsome praise of Mr.. Hughes.
If the Republican nominee has no to feel
fattered that he is recognized as a desirable
cessor to the leader of administration that has
stood on lower level than the admins
tration Of Buchanan" and that has accustomed
us to see the highest and most responsible offices
Of government filled by incompetent men ap-
pointed only for reasons OF partisan politics. he
may find more comfort in the declaration that in
choosing him the Republican convention met the
cXactng requirements OF the Progressive party
Col Roosevelt'S references to the activities
and influence OF the various so-caed German
American alliances may be studied with profit
by the Democrats. His observations are quite
as suggestive OF service to them as to the Repub-
Icans. Pointing out the wide difference between
the professional COMMUNICATIONS OF this
type" and the great mass Of the men and women
Of German birth descent who have been or
are being completely merged in common
American nationality" Col. Roosevelt adds: "I
have singled these men out for specific denun-
ciation, and assuredly if I support a candidate it
may be accepted proof that I am certain that
the candidate is incapable OF being Influenced
by the evil intrigues of these hyphenated Amer
leans"
Mr.. Hughes opponents have high hopes of
being able to make issue OF the fact that he
has not been denounced by the hyphenated
tribe, but if they will give to Col. Roosevelts
words this subject the careful consideration
they are entitled to they may be saved from a
useless expenditure Of energy that might be pro-
ductive in another direction. The hyphen can
not be made issue in this campaign because
Mr. Hughes Americanism is no more assailable
than is President Wilson's. Certainly intelligent
Americans cannot be expected to withhold their
votes from American in whom they have
implicit confidence and give them to another for
no other reason than that that other is not in
favor with the hyphenated agtators Even were
there ever any possibility Of making the hyphen
an issue it has been destroyed; the effort has
been forestalled almost as quickly as it was
made. Its renewal is likely to bring more dan
ger to Democratic than to Republican prospects
Col. Roosevelt has made beginning that
must be gratifying to the Republican party. His
words hold out to it the promise that he will be
powerful factor in the campaign.