Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-19
The Useful IIcCklcr

THIS campaign has been marked TO an
unusual degree b" new form OF dis
cusson-discusson by hecklng. Mr.. Hughes
has engaged in it to greater extent than
has the President, but neither candidate has
escaped the questoncr in tho audience.
Moreover, both have invited further qucs-
tions by submitting without protest to the
Interruptions.
In sense, the hecklcr is Il disagrceablc
person particularly when he is merely noisy
or seeks only to embarrass the public
speaker by putting wholly irrelevant ques-
tons For that reason the average audience
views such incidents with mpaticnce often
with outspokcn resentment To interrupt Il
public speech offends the idea Of hospitality
and good taste
On the other hand. quest ions going to the
issues under discussion and respectfully sub
mtted from the floor TO Il candidate often
develop highly interesting and important re-
jonders. Particularly has this been true OF
the questions asked Mr.. Hughes recently
Unfortunately for him and his party and
therefore fortunately for the country, they
have been SO pertinent. so much 10 the point
that his attempts TO answer them have fur
Their disclosed the weakness of candidate
and party without an issue.
Mr.. Hughes's reply 10 his Louisville
heckler who asked him what he would have
done when the l.usitania was sunk served
to prove again his lack of the qualifications
necessary TO conduct the affairs Of this coun-
try during critical period in its diplomacy.
Taken in its best light. his answer shows
that even il he had followed the course now
dictated by nearly two years of hindsght
the result would have been so problcmatical
that his most jealous supporters are hope
lcssly divided in their efforts to determine il
Nor could anything have been more 'incpt"
to employ Republican catch-wort-
than Mr.. iIughes's response TO his Sioux City
questioncr who tried to draw from him Il
statement as TO whether he would urge the
repeal OF the Adamson cight-hour law and
what he would have done TO avert the threat
ened railroad strike. AS i matter OF fact
he did not make response, but only reply
In regard to the Adamson law. he said that
"a surrender could not be repealed That
is more or less high sounding. but it means
nothing. The Adamson law could be re-
pealed. and Mr.. Hughes we'll knows il. What
the country is chiefly interested in is not
how the AdamSon law was passed but what
It's terms provide. So. as to the eight hour
legislation, the question OF what Mr.. Hughes
would do is still open. with every indication
pointing to the conclusion that he would do
nothing, thus further sustaining the position
taken by The Times DiSpat CHI Yesterday that
all serious controversy between himself and
his Democratic opponent upon the question
is ended.
If arbitration had been refused" he pro-
claimed in reference to the demand OF the
brotherhoods. Il should have gone right to
the American people. stated the facts and
put the responsibility where il belonged"
And thai is precisely what President Wilson
did. in the only way possible under our plan
or government. He went right TO the Ameri-
can people-through their representatives
he took the matter to Congress. laid the
facts before that body and asked for such
legislation as would meet the situation and
provide for the future. For Mr.. Hughes TO
have reached The American people moro
directly would have involved some British
like device Of going to the country" neither
advisable nor possible under our Constitution
1t is clear that for the purpose Of sweep
ing away spurious issues. tho hcckler has
his uses