New-York tribune., 1916-07-11
WHY REFLECT WILSON!
Hi, the Credit Neither for War Prosperity
Nor for Germany's Breakdown.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir. Your correspondent Of the 7th, sign
inc himself "A Naturalzed American gives
two reasons for the reelection oil fresiue"'
Wilson:
First-"The country is in prosperous con
dition. and will remain so If we keep fres'
dent Wilson at the helm.
Let us analyze this prosperity. What KIM
e. prosperity would we have had under the
rndcrwood tariff but for the war in Europe
To the war is due all the prosperity we are
o,,iovinr as to industrials and exports Does
cnv Democrat claim that Mr.. Wilson ls en-
titled TO credit or is responsible for TINS war
II not. then this claim falls TO the ground ana
must be dismissed as scrap oil paper VII
the other hand, but for the war TINS couh-
trv would have been flooded with the proa-
ucts of cheap European labor paraly]ihs
many of our industries and creating such
condition of unemployment as the country
had not seen since the last Democratic ad-
ministration, 1926. Verify the war was
.codsend to the present Administration. Let
US hope that we may be spared the eNpe-
rience of the prosperity the country would
have had under peace conditions. hircady
the Democratic Congress is talking of cast
ing an anchor to the windward to prevent
Europe from dumping its cheap products
irto our country with the return of peace.
Second "He has steered US clear OF the
slaughterhouse Of Europe"
Has he? Have we not suffered the loss OF
many valuable lives by the submarine war
on vessels on peaceful voyages when hrm-
ness and decision at the proper time would
have prevented il? When the submarine war
began Germany had respect for this country,
and if the Executive had had a policy ana
demanded compliance with international law
even the first of these tragedies would NOT
have shocked the world. When Germany
saw that the worst she had to fear was
notes, notes." with no intention of backing
up words with action, she lost all respect for
our country and pushed the submarine war
until England found means to render 1t un-
profitable. No credit to Wilson that she sus-
pended it for the time.
How about Mexico? Has he kept US out
of war there? Had Wilson recognized Huerta
when other nations did this country would
have had no Mexican problem. His excuse
that ne would not recognize an dSSdoSih'
when he had no positive knowledge of the
manner Of Madero's taking Off. was no justi-
fcation. for it is not our business to teach
morals to other nations. We have been and
are now paying dearly for this squirt of
virtue based on an assumption.
This was not enough: lie assumed to die
tate to a sister republic who should govern
them. and when he demanded that Huerta
should abdicate and let some other, weaker
and less fitted for the job, take his place
he intervened and would have given no great
er cause for antagonlsm against this country
if he had marched an army across the border. /
lie has had no policy in regard TO Mexican
affairs; his flirting with first one bandit and
then another, his vacilation and weakness
have brought on an actual state of war and
tie flower of our manhood is called to go
down therefor what? Simply TO bring
Carranza TO a state Of mind that would make
negotiations possible when a firm policy
from the first would have rendered all this
pomp and ceremony Of marching troops and
rarading them along the border while the
newspaper columns are burdened with the
cry of families left without support unnec
essary; and the longer this state of affairs
continues the greater this suffering will
become
he evolved policy Of frmness, and taken
counsel with army officers and begun at once
tc prepare for eventualities, the present de-
rlorable condition of affairs would not now
exist
He sent the navy to Vera Cruz for a salute
to the flag and came away without It. He
is keeping Pershing's handful Of soldiers IN
the country far from the border, when but
for tho fear of the political effect they would
he withdrawn to position Of safety, as they
should be, for if the present attitude of
Carranza should take sudden turn, as 1t is
likely to do, the entire expedition could be
wiped out before reinforcements could reach
them.
Does this not dispose of your correspon-
dents second reason why Wilson should be-
reelected? D. W. DlG"S'
New York, July 10, 1916.
E,;r deal for fbe Militia