New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-08
To The Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: ! think you are right in advocating
the nomination of Theodore Roosevelt. There
are three things needful of accomplishment
In the approaching campaign: First, the
election Of man capable of carrying into
effect virile and American policies: second.
and more important, the establishment Of
SUCH policies as the definite choice of the
people, these policies to be chiefly dignifed
lnsstence upon American rights abroad and
the necessary preparation at home to enable
US TO obtain these rights by the ability TO
use force, or in the last extreme by force it.
SELF; third, and far the most important Of all.
the reflex effect upon the people Of the coun-
try of worthy ideals at Washington and the
immediate inyigoration which voting for such
IDEALS will bring to them.
As to the first of these needs. there are
many men who could I'll the bill. Person
ally, l consider Mr.. Root the ablest nublio
man in the United States. But his carly cor
poration affiliations, his part in the miser.
able convention at Chicago four wears sco
and his advanced age would make him q wal
candidate. He can be of most value 70 tbo
country in the Office of Secretary Of Stat
burton or Mccall might be able to give q
good administration, but neither has the es-
Sental magnetism now required. Hughes
undoubtedly has the ability. but his tom
permanent is judicial. of which we have nod
a-pIenty' and his position makes il impossibl.
for him to declare himself upon tho con.
trolling issues OF this election. issues in ,.
gard TO which the position of any candidate
Tor the nomination must be unauestionable
No man who has not been outspoken in sun.
port OF democracy against Kaiserism. Of the
rights OF unoifending nations in general and
american rights In particular, ought to be
considered.
Inc policies of the new administration tho
platform upon which the President must ba
elected, must be such as to win respec, for
our nation and safety for our citizens abroad
and preparedness at home to enable ia 70
perform the responsibilities Of A great ma
ton. Political necessity will doubtless counIa
with these paramount issues Of Americanisr
some doctrines Of which many of rs entiro,,,
dsapn:ove, but their Importance ia irsir
nifcant. |, for instance entirely disbelieve
in the theory and practice of tariff protec.
ton, but what does it matter alongside If
the Justification of our national existence >
Questions of our pocketbooks should he for.
gotten where We have 70 deal with questions
Of our honor.
The truly important thing. however. is
neither the identity OF our President nor the
establishment Of our policies, but the awaken
ing of the soul Of our nation. The old Amor
lea had in it much of the heroic; this same
spirit exists to-day If only it can be aroused.
We have enough of pink-teA man-milliner.
Harold-and- Percy. grape juice -uber-alles con-
duct OF our affairs; we must get back to the
homespun virtues of our forebears. Of which
courage and yirility were not the least. The
important thing is not the President who is
to represent the Spirit Of America. but the
Spirit Of America which is TO be represented
in the President. Now. more than at any
time since 1860, the very fact OF our efforts
TO elect President worthy Of our history
can have a powerful influence in broadening
ourselves and making US worthy in like man.
ner.
A Ford-jitney administration has done all
that II could 10 make US jitney people; we
need some one of a 100-horsepower TO bring
US back. And for our own sakes, not for his,
We need man who has been duly advertised
as Of l00-horsepower size. so that in voting
for him We may realize that We are volun-
tarily choosing 10 have nothing 20 do with
the side-car motorcycle outfits. IL is even
more important that we should believe that
our candidate Is big and strong and Ameri-
can and brave than that he should actually
be so, because voting for him in this belief
will help TO make US big and strong and
American and brave ourselves.
The one man who stands forth pre-eminent