Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-07
I. RS EXPLANATION
0FHUGHES DEFEAT
G. O. p. Failed to Show Voters
I'm Convincing Fashion
Where Their Duty Lay"

''F sh''S NV lf'NN'
nlortem OF the results of the balloting
on November I IL the Christmas issue
OF the METROPOLITAN Magazine. out to-
DAY, IN an article entitled Tho Flee
ton. lii holding the "1tc kopt us out
ot war CRY and tho vide rrospcrity Of
the patton as the decisive factors in the
democratic victory. tho colonel ioes
NO; charge til" citiarnrv with moral
ohtusonoES,' but EXCUSES the millions
"h7 voted Tor e." President on the
ground that they we're rot shown in
convincing fashion" where their duty
la.
Eat that part most likely to- arouse
in republican leaders the liveiiost fnci.
IN. Is: when a public man who had
lnr three years praised each IF Mr.
Wilson'S acts separately turned round
ana during the campaign condemned
them AL collectively. he did not carry
conviction"
rs In all such caees." Colonel Coosc.
v"it said in part the result is more
easy TO explain than il had been to
!oretei1. Tho appeal made for Mr.. vii.
"on was one which would tel, very
strongly with sood, honest citizens
whose p~reoccuration with their own
pursuits was such that they could no,
nc expected to luNk decrly into orr in
'crna'ional relations and the general
world conditions
This appeal was in its essence tina, We
shoHld vote for Mr.. Wilson because he
han Kept us out Of war and because We
We're prosperous. it would have been
hlgiliy creditablo to the average man if
he had possessed tho vision and disin,cr-
~estedness TO disregard such an apncal.
nut tho fact that he did not disregard il
merely means that We were not able to
~ L., Tho ,--..-
not mean that he would remain morally
ohtuse " he could be shown in convinc-
ing fashion where his duty Law.
\ sensible man wishes 10 20 ia war
II ne can honorably keep out Of it: and
when To this natural inclination is added
me tact that the man is very busy and
Is puzzled by the issues involved. he is
certain To cast his vote on the side that
he is told will guarantee peace.
"EvidentlN people tend To look at the
dreadful crimes committed in Belgium
and Armenia. in the sinking Of the Lusi
tania. and in Mexico as analogous to dis.
asters such AS al earthquake or a fire. as
properly exciting a discreet sy1npathv.
but not as calling for any action that
would jeopardiz" The comfort and well
being of those not Immediately concerned.
II do not approve Of this attitude. 7
am merely stating II. Insofar as our
people permanently preserve it. they will
steadily tend to the Chinese level II
may need a serious shock to wake them
from II. Yet 7 am sure it is possible
To wake them. and that when ~thorouShly
aroused they hav" the further possibility
of showing he great qualities of the mcr,
and women Of tho Revolution and of the
Civil War.
We have permitted out politicians. our
candidates for public offices. to treat the
promises made in party platforms and on
INC stump with a cynical indiffe renco
which now reflects itself in a similar in
difference on tho part Of tho voters.
When public men arc readily hardened
Tor making any promise which they
think will secure public favor before
election and for repudiating any prom
Use which they think it inconvenient IN
keep after election. it is impossible 10
expect that tho voters will not finally
grow sceptical about all promises,
prophecies and statements made during
tho course of a campaign.
I'm addition to these counter claims
there was the fact tina the Adamson
bill unqucstionably produced = great
effect in Mr.. Wilson'S favor in all labor
circles. II was taken as an indication
that in any conflict betwecn capital and
labor Mr.. WilscU would supper labor,
without an overnicc scrutiny OF the merits
of tho case or tho future effects of his
action.
Moreover. there was a real blurring
OF the issues because for the first three
years Of Mr.. Wilson's term tho leaders
among his nominal party opponents citho
feared to criticisc him al all or else
spit. half OF them assailinE him because
on some given policy he had gone toe
far and tho other half because he had