The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-01
WHY HUGHES HAS FAILED
New York world.)

The close of Mr.. Hughes western
tour finds Republicans in general bit
'ta9ly, not to say resentfully, disap-
p1inted in his speeches and in his
Sampaign.
NO other candidate for president in
= generation has failed so completely
% measure up to public expectations.
When Mr.. Hughes was nominated
'4hO universal opinion was that he
would prove stronger than his own
Earty. He has shown that he is only
,as strong as his party and no strong
O.. The belief is common today that
R Mr.. Hughes should be elected pres
scent it will be because the country
IL conservatively Republican in it's
politics and that any other Republl-
can candidate satisfactory to Wall
SSkreet and the German vote would
hRve done as well
Democrats exultantly declare that
the Hughes myth" has been explod-
cd. We are not so certain that II was
a myth. The Hughes reputation was
hased upon substantial public service,
but the standards Of public service
have changed since Mr.. Hughes was
governor of New York. The country
- thinking politically on broader
limos. The war, the Wilson admins
sration, and even the Roosevelt cam
Paign OF 1912, have had an enormous
educational effect upon the average
American. It could not have been
Utherwise.
When Mr.. Hughes ran for governor
ia 1906 his opponent was William II.
Hnarst and in comparison with Mr..
Hearst it is not difficult for a man
OF Mr.. Hughes training and tempera'
ssnent TO shine In campaign. Even
= 1oorge B. Mcclellan acquired that
aistinction.
When Mr.. Hughes ran in 1908 his
sPponent was Lewis Stuyvesant Chan
DER and, however likable Mr.. Chanler
cmay be, his best friend would hardly
sacscribe him as an intellectual ath
aste.
When Mr.. Hughes was governor the
state was absorbed in relatively small
matters like Barnes and Murphy The
,nDst ambitious attemp of Governor
Hughes was to enact direct primary
Asw that excluded New York City
Brom its operations in the name o
Eusion. lie failed completely, but 4
was regarded In those days as his
to4y-making fight
In his campaign for the presidency
Nr. Hughes is obliged TO measure vi
against Woodrow Wilson who is quite
.ailferent material from the politica
;pagmies with whom Mr.. Hughe
WrBstled in New York. Bossism il
mot am issue that can be raisec
against the Wilson administration 70
the good and sufficient reason tina
whatsoever bossing has been done ha
'aseen done by the president himself
AUMA4 Atlt vi DtulOhi ~
sAEe all in revolt against him.
A country at peace that has weatt
sorsd the successive crises of the mos
7doSHstating war In all history and ha
Sesn dealing with domestic legislatio
'-sOf the first calibre is not impresse
with smaller things, and Mr., Hugha
HEfufnH haalF m tho nF Ia
things. While he was an associat
tlHtice OF the United States suprem
oDurt he lost touch with the forwar
snArch of the American people III
edOea not know how they think or ho'
they feel, and he is unable to adjus
Ahimself 10 II new political environ
nsnt. In a way he is political ana
AchTonism. and while he will strive def
BesWtely. men of his age who have ia
Nm behind In liberal habits of though
a@~er quite catch up with the proce'
saApn.
Mr. Hughes still visualizes tn
Uuited States and the American pee
DaD as they were In 1910 when h
went upon the bench. Mentally, he
autin living in the Taft administration
The history that has been write
Sance that day is a blank page TO hir
IN ali It's larger aspects as affectin
The destiny of mankind. That is VIII
his campaign Is failure.
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