Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-08-11
BY MEAD PUBLISHING co
Official Paper Of the City and the County
Issued on Friday of Each Week
Famous Writers Ask Hughes Where
He Stands.

New York, Aug. 2-On behalf of
committee of distinguished American
writers, the executive group of which
met yesterday at the Hotel Biltmore,
George Creel gave out the following
open letter:
''To the Honorable Charles E.
Hughes: The professional writer's who
sign this letter have small interest in
parties, but very deep interest in de-
mocracy. tits our hope, through this
voluntary association, to assist in the
promotion of honest, educational dis
cussion in order that fundamental is
sues may not be decided in prejudice
and ignorance.
''Mr. Wilson'S beliefs have been ex-
pressed in law and in declared policies.
He has made an open record by which
he may be judged. Wise choice is not
possible unless you yourself make
equally specific statement of purposes
and convictions.
Without intent to offend we feel
justified in charging that in no single
public utterance have you filed bona
fide bill of particulars, nor have you
offered single constructive sugges-
ton.
"Generalities are without value.
Blanket criticism is worthless. What
we desire to know, what it is fair that
the electorate should know, are the ex-
act details of your disagreement with
President Wilson. What has he done
that you would not have done, and
what has he failed to do that you would
have done or propose to do?
Honesty and patriotism demand
that you put yourself upon record in
such manner Jas to permit people to
judge you as they are now able to
judge President Wilson,
PERTINENT QUESTIONS ASKED
'.For example:
II. Would you have filed instant
protest against the invasion of Belgium
and backed up that protest with the
United States navy?
'.2. 1t is arrant nonsense to talk
about action that would have prevent
cd the Lusitania tragedy, the vague ad-
vertisement did not appear until short
ly before the hour of sailing. The oc-
currance was one of those things that
civilization has made the world regard
% incredible. The only honest ques-
ton is this: Would you have made the
disaster the subject Of diplomatic ne
gotiations, or would you have broken
relations with Germany at once?
%. Would you have urged upon
Congress an embargo upon the ship
ment of munitions to the Allies?
"a. Would you urge universal COM
pulsory military service?
IS. You are frank in stating that
Huerta's morals were of no concern to
America. Does this mean that you
would have recognized Huerta?
g. As matters stand today, would
you be in favor of intervening in
Mexico?
81. Does your attack upon the Will
son shipping bill mean that you are in
favor OF ship subsidies?
"s. You speak enthusiastically of
the rights of the workers. Does this
imply that you indorse the Clayton an
thrust law and the seamen's bill, or
will you urge their repeal?
80. What are your specific COM
plants against Federal reserve law?
10. AS Governor of New York YOU
opposed the income-tax amendment.
Does this antagonism persist? Do you
or DO you not believe in paying for pre-
paredness out of a tax or incomes in
heritances and munitions?
A CRITICAL PERIOD.
We agree with you that it is crit
ical period, by far too critical, indeed,
for candidates to talk in terms of Office
seeking rather than in the simple, ear
nest language of definite Americanism.
Respectfully,
(Signed)
Samuel Hopkins Adams, Ray Stan
nard Baker, Ellis Parker Butler, L.
Ames Brown, Dante Barton, Irwin
Cobb, Wadsworth Camp, j. O'Hara
Cosgrove, Stoughton Cooley, William
L. Chenerey, George Creel, James
Forbes, Frederick C. Howe, Eugene
Manlove Rhodes, Boardman Robinson,
Opie Reed, William Leavitt Stoddard,
Gibson Gardner, Frederick Stuart
Greene, Oliver HEREFORD, Prof. Louis
johnson, Richard Lloyd Jones, Peter
D. Kynes, Percy Mackage, A. J. Nc
Kelway, Basil Marley, Meredith Mich
olson, Albert Jay Hook, Harvey J.
O'Higgins, Charles johnson Post, VIM.
Mcleod Rayne, John Reed, Edgar