Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-21
HUGHES REPLIES TO
h'ADOO AND BAKER
Nominee Repeats What He
Would Have Done in the
Lusitania Case.
CLOSE OF THIRD TOUR

night about the course he would have
followed with reference to the Lusi
tania, tonight replied to recent ut
terance of Secretary McAdoo, witt
the declaration that apparently il
seemed impossible to the administra
ton that one could mean what he
said.
Now rises the secretary OF the
treasury to complain that this was
not statement Of what ! would
have done, had the sinking occurred,
Mr.. Hughes said, after reiterating
that he would have stated his position
"unequivocally" in advance of the
sinking.
Il was under the impression that
~ when l said what | would have stated
in advance as to what | would do,
everyone would know that stated
what intact, | would have done i'll
the described event. The secretarys
remarks shows in an Illuminating
way this administration conception
OF the value of words.
Means What He Says.
1T apparently seems impossible to
this administration that one can mean
what he says. That is its difficulty.
With it, threat of action does not
seem to mean anything but words.
My position is somewhat different.
Il mean what | say and because
this would have been well known and
we should already have had repu
tation for correct policies, | repeat
that the Lusitania would not have
been sunk"
Mr.. Hughes spoke before an audi
ence in the theater here. He also re-
piled to'a statement attributed to Sec
rotary of War Baker in a recent
speech, in which Washington's SOL
diers in the march to Valley Forge
in the days of the American revolt
ton, were said to be just as bad
characters as the Mexicans.
II never supposed the day would
come" Mr.. Hughes said, When the
representative of the American gov
eminent would say that about those
who gave us our liberties.
Americans Should Blush.
After quoting the statement attrib-
uted to Secretary Baker, Mr..
Hughes read from Secretary Lans-
ing's description in June last of the
atrocities in Mexico, contained in
note to the de facto government of
Mexico. Mr.. Lansing's recital of the
civil strife in Mexico, with its at
tendant loss of, American life and
destruction of american property,
and that portion of the note relating
to the Santa Ysabel massacre, were
read by Mr.. Hughes verbatim.
"An administration imbued with the 4
spirit of true Americanism," Mr..
Hughes said, would be incapable OF
this statement attributed to the sec
rotary of war. 1t must bring the
blush OF shame to the cheek of every
American that apologies for the de-
plorable record in Mexico should be
made after this fashion"
Back to New York.
Mr.. Hughes speech here tonight |
was the last of his third presidential
campaign trip. He left here at II p.
m, for New York, where he is due
tomorrow afternoon. The day was
spent travelling, with three short ad-
dresses, at Bay City, Saginaw and |
Flint, Mich. 1t was raining and the |
damp weather affected the nominees |
voice.
In his-speech here tonight Mr..
Hughes said: 4
"The president of the United
States is the trustee of executive1
power. Placed in control of our
agencies of international intercourse,
he is the guardian of the rights of the
American citizen. He has no author
ity to surrender them; no right to i'm
pair them. Upon his firmness in
maintaining that depends our, security
and our peace. The democratic plat
form four years ago promised that
the constitutional rights of American
citizens should protect them on our
borders and go with them through
out the world. When it promised
full protection for American lives and
property abroad it stated an estab-
lished American principle. II
Rights of Citizens.
Zone of Americas greatest jurists,
speaking for the supreme court of
the United States, said many years
ago: Another privilege of citizen
of the United States is to demand the
care and protection of the federal gov
eminent over his life, liberty and
property when on the high seas or
within the jurisdiction of a foreign
government
Nov, we are told that the adminis-
tration has turned its back on the
american doctrine OF full protection.
That is what its leading apologst
finds its record in Mexico to mean.
1t is reversal without authority and
in violation of the specifie pledge
upon which it was elected. Instead
of following its clear line of duty,
it engaged in personal, vindictive
war, leaving the lives and property of
our citizens to be destroyed.
Direct Effect of Policy.
This deplorable condition de-
stroyed our international prestige.
When the administration did speak
for American rights, its words were
not taken seriously It had made its
reputation.
AS result we have destruction of
American lives and property and in
reference with American commerce
which could have been prevented. The
executive has many resources at his
and he can protect our
known rights without war.
HDo.a,t,, SEQ L,-a ~ .tf,...:.A |