Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1916-11-18
A SEVERE LEGALISTIC MIND"

In refraining from acknowledging defeat and failing to send congratu-
ment that is at great variance with the American spirit of fairness. 1t is
also causing many former admirers to lose whatever regard they had tor
him in former days and put him in the class of pigmies, ST far 3 broad
ness of mind is concerned. People everywhere have conceded Mr.. Will
sons election and St have all the papers throughout the country, but
Mr.. Hughes still holds out, hoping against hope, it would seem, that the
state his way. In this view of the case he is upheld by n o one except
perhaps Chairman Wilcox of the Republican National committee and Will
cox himself is now trying to dodge responsibility for Hughes acton.
In commenting on the position that Mr.. Hughes has assumed the
New York World charges that it is due to the ever legahstc mind OF
refuses to eoneede the election OF Mr.. Wilson until the official count in
California shall have been completed.
Meantime" that paper states, the unofficial figures show that MI.
Wilson has carried the state. Hiram Johnson, the Republican governor,
admits ii. The newspaper press entertains n o doubt. Men who lost
to suppose that California has voted for Hughes than there is to believe
that Indiana, also a close state, has voted for Wilson.
ITO be very exact about such matters, it will hardly be possible for
Mr. Hughes to admit defeat ven when he receives the official count from
California. After that the electors must meet and cast their ballots. Mes
sengers must then carry the news to congress. which in due course must
declare the result. In all these processes those who are precise in judicial
training cannot fail to see att least a chance of irregularity O accident.
"The trouble at Republican headquarters is that all hands have under
taken to make politics conform to, jurisprudence. They not only think
they are dealing with positive law, but they imagine that admissions on
their part have the force of positive law. 1t is plain to everybody else that
n congratulations extended to President Wilson will re-eleSt him if the
electoral votes happen to be against him later or, but obviously enough.
men who believe they re engaged in judicial proceedings car extend no
fluctuations except from the last ditch of law.
Nobody is disposed to complain because the Republican managers
are watching conditions closely. That is a duty Is we'll as a right. What
~ he objected TO is the ASSUMPTION hat a small Democratic plurality
in one state is less conclusive than small Republican puraites in several
other states. While hesitation in tie acceptance of election returns, Eel
when all the probabilities confirm their accuracy, may be in accordance
with ironclad rules of evidence which al honorable profession has estao-
Eshed, 1t is most emphatca1y in conflict with honest American traditions.
Among til: essential principles of our government a laid down by
Thomas Jefferson in his first inaugural, vas absolute acquiescence IN
the decisions OF the majority, the vital principle Of republics. from which
there is n O appeal but to force, which is the vital principle and immediate
parent of despotsm'
when the decision Of the majority has been duly ascertaned in the
usual way, n 20 citizen, n matter HON eminent or how learned in the law,
found to be in error, n o decree from the bench is necessary to set him
right. The corrected vote itself will overrule him. Furthermore, unless
that he yielded promptly and generously in true American fashion to
what at least appeared to be the voice Of the people: