The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-06-26
INDEPENDENT VOTERS TURNING
TO HUGHES

'AMPAlGN leaders in both political
~ parties fully appreciate the ad
vantage the republicans have this year
in the fact that their national conven.
tion was not dominated by any individ.
ual or group There Ia not the remos.
est possibility Of the charge that the
bosses" controlled the Chicago con-
vention. In fact, everybody knows that
the great majority OF the delegates
were chosen In primaries where no die.
tation was possible. and that in the
co.vention the men who have been
reco oSniSed as leaders In the past were
supporters Of various candidates, and
though willing to accept Hughes. were
not for him In the first instance. The
Hughes nomination came from a popu.
lar demand-not from . dictator.
How different II was In the demo-
cratic convention. where all the import.
ant arrangements and many Of the de-
tails were directed by President VIII
son. who selected the presiding officers.
designated the men who should make
speeches. drafted the platform. and
will direct the management OF the cam
paign. AS to managing the campaign.
there can be no criticism. for 1t is es.
sential that the candidate shall have
large control over that. But prior to
the nomination. when. theoretically,
was free to nominate any person II
might prefer, the action Of the presi.
dent in taking personal charge Of ev.
erything was not only slap at the
men who have been prominent In his
party. but It was a demonstration OF
the one-man character of the demo-
cratic organization.
It is already apparent that this dif.
ference will have no small effect upon
the independent voters Of the country.
The chief reason why some men main
tain an attitude OF independence OF
party afnliation is that they dislike the
implied obligation to support a candi.
date whose nomination has been forced
b. the power of dictator or Of q
machine.
The independent voter turns most
easily to the republican ticket this
year. and for several reasons. He is
iinpelled in that direction by "a com.
partson between the man Woodrow
Wilson and the man Charles Evan
Hughes in stability of character, in
solidity Of attainments. in sincerity of
professions, in courage Of performance.
In loyalty to conscience. in the recti.
tude that abides in the heart and not
in the larynx." as the New York Sun
recently said.
The independent voter also finds the
republican ticket most attractive be-
cause 1t represents an America First"
policy in industrial affairs, while the
democrats are still welded to the pol
Icy Of throwing our markets open to
the foreign producer. 1t is q party with !
a long constructive record behind 1t !
and policy Of constructiveness guild.
ing its future
But not the least Of the influences |
which will turn the independent voter
to the republican ticket this year will /
be the open character Of the republican !
convention, and the closed. cut-and-
dried character Of the gathering at st. I
Louis. And in this there will be many !,
voters heretofore democratic who will
class themselves as independents this
year. Having had no voice In making
up the ticket or framing the platform.
.hey feel no responsibility for its sue.
Tess. and they feel free to vote for the
.tcket and the man that more nearly
represents their views of wise national
'olicies and practices.