The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-26

1t remains for US, good humoredly
and with common sense. to face the
situation and endcavor to get out Of
II the best that II can be made to yield
from the standpoint of the interests of
the nation as a whole.
This was the situation at the opening
OF the present year. II was clearly evil
dent that. unless a cataclysm occurred
TIE ne Presidential election would result In
the Democratic nominee.
Calls Wilson Rule
Worst Since Buchanan.
The pressat Aaministrstion. during
Its three years Of life. had been guilty
Of shorteominGs more signal than
those Of any Administration since the
days Of Buchsnan.
From the standpoint Of national
honor snd interests, Il stood on nm
even lower level than the Administra-
tion Of Buchanan.
No Administration in our history had
done more to relax the spring OF the ma
tional will and to deaden sthe national
Within the Republican party conflict
Ing forces were at work. There were
men among the organization leaders
who advocated q course OF action such
as offered no improvement upon the
Democratic position. and advocated the
nomination Of candidates whose election
would have represented no Improvement
upon the continuance In office of Mr..
Wilson.
Duty Was to
Unite Forces.
II such q course we're followed. 1t
would obviously become our duty to run
n trI lob nnx lnyx
duty to do everything honorable In or
der to prevent such a necessity; to do
everything short OF sacrificing our most
sacred convictions In order to secure
the alignment under one leadership OF
power Of Mr.. Wilson and the Demo-
cratic party.
Under these circumstances the Pro-
gressive rational committee. at Chicago.
la January outlined our duty TO seek
common action with the Republican
party. usInE the following words: Our
people arc seeking leadership-leader-
ship of the highest order and most
courageous Character; leadership that
will draft TO itself for the country's
benefit tire unselfish and patriotic serv-
Ices Of IL abIest citizens.
The surest way &c secure for our coun-
try the required leadership will be by
having. II possible. both the Progress
sive and Republican parties choose the
same standard bearer and the same
principles"
Clean. Cut Americanism
Colonies Platform.
SIX weeks later. on March Q. in my
Trinidad statement, I asked for a SINH
lar combination against the Democratic
party. on a platform Of 'clean-cut.
straightort national Americanism." and
for Q candidate who will not merely
Stand for such r. program before cleo
ton. will be resolutely and In good faith
put II through II elected"
This was. IN effect. the same state
ment that i made In my telegram to
ex-senator jackson. pending the con-
Can we not, forgetting past differ
ences. now Join, for the safety and
honor OF our country. to enforce the
policies OF genuine Americanism and
genuine preparedness?
Surely we can AFFORD to act in ac-
cordance with the words OF Abraham
Lincoln when he said. May not all
having q common interest reunite in
common effort to save our common
May we ask those who have not
differed with us to Join In this same
spirit toward those who have? AS
far as my own soul Is known to me
Il Is In this same spirit that at this
time make my appeal to the Repub-
leans and Progressives assembled at
Chicago"
Stated His Attitude
To Progressive Chiefs.
In addition to these public state
ments / had also stated my own
attitlde verbally. and in letters. dur
ing the weeks Immediately preceding
the convention, to scores OF leading
prosressiyes from all parts OF the
country, including many OF the lead
To these men l expressed my earn
est hope that the Republicans would
so act as to make IT possible for the
Progressives to Join with them.
view of the attitude Of some OF the
Republican leaders 1t was at least con-
ceivable that We should be put in a
position where our highest duty, our
fealty to the country, our sense OF
what patriotism demanded in great
crisis would make 1t imperative upon
us to run a separate ticket; and that
whether In such event II would be nee
essary for me to head that ticket
could not be determined in advance.
! stated In these interviews and in
these letters. with the utmost empha-
SIS that the decision OF this 20 mt, like
the whole matter Of running a separate
ticket. would have to be determined by
what the interests Of the country de-
manded In view OF the action finally
taken by the conventions at Chicago.
Good Faith Doubted
BY Republicans.
At the time many OF the Republican
leaders asserted that my statements
were not made in good faith: that
really intended to insist upon my own
nomination by the Republican conven-
ton: and that II I was not so nomi-
mated. ! intended to accept the Pro.
gressive nomination and run on a third
ticket.
or course. nv fellow Pr >gress'v yes were
under no such error. They knew thai
i spoke In good faith and meant ex.
actly what I said. They knew that my
utterances were to oe accepted at theii
exact face value as meaning that II
the Republicans nominated mar
whom we could conscientiously support
| we would support him.
The Progressive convention came to-
gether knowing my public statements
and therefore knowing exactly what m,
| attitude was.
Hughes Nomination
Meets Conditions.
| In my Judgment, tho nomination o.
Mr. Hughes meets the conditions &c
L