The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-24
PERCY MACKAYE
 EARNESTLY. FOR ! THE PRESIDENT
Author Says Record of Will
 son Refutes Charges T Against Him

New York; Oct. 24.-Percy Mac Kaye. poet and playwright, was one of the a7 authors who early in the campaign addressed an open letter to Charles E. Hughes containing 10 questions bearing on national policies which the Republican candidate was requested to answer. Since then statements have emanated from Re- publican sources questioning whether the attitude of MT. MacKaye toward MT. Hughes was accurately reflected cr~ that letter. Now MT. MacKaye has issued statement which dispels all possible doubt on that point.
 'I am of no political party" says MT. MacKaye. Till now. it has seem ed to me fitting to give all due con- sideration to the reasons of Will sons opponents for advocating a change in the presidency. have done SO; my convictions have grown change. A
 ..In his foreign policy. opponents accuse Wilson of weakness, selfish ness. cowardice. vacillation. To these accusations-too impassioned to- be reasonable--wilson's record presents, think. the confuting answers.
 "His- so-called weakness has achieved immense accomplishment. summed up in this:% seemingly inn possible since August. 1914, we are still at peace with the world
 His 'selfishness' has been certain ly of rare type-one wholly de- void of self-seeking. For what would have been the easiest most self-seek- ing act he might have committed had he really been selfish? Certainly so have launched our country into war; for war automatically brings to his office dictatorship and hero-worship. and war-president is irresistibly re- elected
 -But they protest he is 'cowardly. he has tried to play safe'-safe- for whom? For himself, or for his coun- try and humanity? Do his accusers FeaIly believe he was in personal fear of a bomb through the White House roof? Would it have shown personal courage in him to have involved the fates of millions in the horrors of war7\ Rather his 'cowardice' has been the rare courage which can face the bitter misunderstanding of those whom it benefits
 And he has 'vacf1lated,' runs the accnsal he has changed his mind more than once It there, then, a mind. self-searching and conscien- tious. which has not changed, more than once. since August, 1914? Do we demand of our Presidents that their judgments shah not mature and be modified?
 Why, then, shall wei pick flaws in official policy when our strict neu- traIty has resnlted not only in our being able to serve the cause we honor far better than by declaring war, but in doing so, to conserve the civilization of peace for half the world7 4fsss.sN sN And Mexico. There the split of American opinion on Wilson's policy is indeed hardest for me to compre- henA- For underneath all. outward seeming chssnges and so-called -vac1l- lations,' his policy has been one and simp1e-the recognition of struggling human liberty; policy seeking to serve the nohlest of causesy
 Wilson has been tested by keen fire and found true to our national ideals: it remains for us ardent1y to strengthen his hand and spirit to deal with the tremendous issues still be- fore us.
 -Because, for this great task, I be- 1ieve that reason is more righteoul than repr1sa1. the sense of liberty more. just and safe than the sense o1 property, and se1f-command1ng peace more American than wealth-expand- ing war. therefore I am earnestly for ifhp re-e1erfirr, of UUov,droxU Wilson n