Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-11-03
TO THE VOTERS OF
BEAR LAKE COUNTY

We are on the eve Of the most i'm
portant election, both national n
state, In which you have ever parti-
cipated. 1t is a time for thought and
reflection. 1t is a time when patriot
ism, not craftsmanship, should guide
our action. 1t ia a time when calm,
sober reason and judgment should
prevail v e party prejudice.
The national campaign has devel-
oped into a contest between two men
instead of the two political parties
1t long since ceased to be a contest
between political parties, as former
presidential campaigns have been.
The platforms of the two political
parties have not been discussed by
speakers or in the papers during this
campaign. The campaign was opened
by Judge Hughes with a western trip,
and in the many speeches he made
on this trip he did not even refer to
his party platform or discuss the
principles of his party. He started
the campaign by casting aside his
party platform and principles and
making one attack after another OH
President Wilson. Instead of relying
upon his own platform and party.
as the great mass of the republican
voters expected and desired him to
! do, he and his managers are making
the campaign on what they term the
weakness and mistakes" of Presi-
dent Wilson. 1t is a deplorable condi-
tion when the managers of q great
political party abandon the platform
and principles of their party and
make a presidential campaign on
what they claim to be the weakness
of the opposite candidate. No man Is
big enough to be president of the
United States who is not big enough
to stand on his W record. And II
a man is big enough to stand on his
own record he is too big to try to be
elected to the Office Of president of
the United States on the demirts of
his opponents record. If such de-
merits exist.
On the other side, President Will
son, the greatest president since Lin
coin, stands upon his own record;
and 1t Is a great record. II Judge
Hughes was a candidate for re-elec-
ton to the presidency with such a
record, democrats by the hundreds
of thousands would come to him just
Is hundreds of thousands of good
republicans are now coming to Priest
dent Wilson. There has been more
beneficial legislation passed during
President Wilson's administration
than was passed during all of the
ten preceding administrations. The
Farmers Loan Bill the Federal Re-
serve Act; Income Tax; Inheritance
Tax; Merchant Marine Act; Child
Labor Bill; Non-Partisan Tariff Com
mission: Trades Commission; Tariff
Bill; Enlarged Agricultural Appro-
nriation Bill. and many others. What
a great record of constructive legis-
lation! When In the history of our
!, government has 1t been equaled in
any ten administrations? What more
could the voters ask for?
But this is not all of his accom-
Dlishments. For nearly two and one
half years three-fourth of the civil
lied world has been at war, the great
: greatest war in the history OF the
/ world. A dozen great world powers
7 war mad and slaughtering people by
t the millions. And President Wilson
, had to deal with these nations when
they were in this angry mood and
not in condition to listen TO reason.
; II is much easier to deal diplomatic
ally with a nation when 1t is at peace
IMAM IL lS when IL Ii at war. AnO
the greatest burden and RESPONSE
/ hility which has come to President
Wilson, OF any other president since
Lincoln. was TO deal with these fight.
I ing nations In such a manner as MOI
2 to involve the United States in this
I great and horrible war. And he has
accomplished this work so far with
credit to himself and the United
r States as a whole. He has maintained
! peace with honor, and what more
1 could be asked7 There have beer
many critical periods during this
time when any serious mistake on
D the part of President Wilson would
0 have involved the United States In
s war. Mothers and fathers, don't yor
Il think he did right2 He has kept oui
h bows at home, and il yon don't wan
them to march away to war o had
\ hotter not vote for a change. And Il
S h"s not vet been disclosed TO us the
q trfal to which this great man VA,