The Washington herald., 1916-11-03
The Ending Of the Campaign.

The Presidential campaign of 1916 practically
has reached its end. Much will be said and much
will be done between now and Tuesday but the
things that are said and the things that are done
in this final brief period probably will have little
if any effect on the ultimate outcome For the
great mass of American voters the campaign is
over and the question, "Who shall vote for has
been settled.
Both President Wilson and Mr.. Hughes prac-
tically have reached that stage where they are
willing to rest their cases. Both probably will
issue final statements to the voters, but it is not
to be expected that these statements will inject
any new questions or issues. There may be
minor points which the nominees will want to
clear up at the eleventh hour and the final state
ments probably will be devoted in some measure
to these. ..--
Of course, both Mr.. Wilcox and Mr.. McCor-
mick may have some sort of surprises to spring.
Clever politicians invariably withhold some bit
of information that is released just in time to
reach the voter as he is going to the polls and
to convert those who are wavering in indecision.
However, Messrs. Wilcox and Mccormick may
consider it beneath the dignity of their positions
to resort to such tactics in this campaign and
content themselves in their final statements to
predictions of victory such the prize fighters
issue before entering the ring. ..-
1t is not unlikely that the Colonel will cx-
plode some kind of bombshell between now
and the casting of the ballots. His recent speeches
have been explosive enough to satisfy almost any
man but Mr.. Roosevelt probably will decide ethat
"a few more fireworks are necessary for proper
ending of his fight. He has way of saying
things that are digested very quickly and of all
those who may devote the eleventh hour to
their own uses he probably is the most dangerous.
But even the most dangerous statement that
the Colonel is capable of making is unlikely to
switch many voters. The campaign has been
waged and its ending practically is here. The
issues have been argued and the duty of the Amer
ican voter is to cast his ballot for the man he be-
lieves to be most capable of guiding the destines
of the nation through the next four years. 1t
probably would be grave mistake for voter
to change his decision because of any event which
may occur between now and election day. The
honest and conscientious voter already should
have reached his decision and he should cling to
this decision in the face of almost any event that
may occur.
The records of President Wilson and Mr..
Hughes should be considered up to November
l. but not thereafter. The time between November
and November is too brief to permit fair
and thorough study of words and actions This
applies particularly of course to President Wilson,
who faces the dual duty of guiding the govern
ment and of winning reelection. Recent events
have served to make this double task more diff
fieult than in the early part 81 the campaign.
The sinking of two steamships by German
submarines, apparently in violation of Berln's
pledges to the United States, and the sudden
adjournment of the Mexican peace conference at
Atlantic City have put a fresh edge on our deli
cate relations with Germany and Mexico. Be-
tween now and election day the President may
be forced to take some action for the best inter-
ests of the nation that will lose him votes if it
is used politically. He should be free to act with
confidence that the voters will consider his record
as made and not his record in the making.
The German and Mexican issues have been
fully discussed and the nominees positions on
these issues now should be fully understood by
the voters. The voter who changes his decision
on new developments pertaining to these issues
is not acting in fairness The campaign pract-
cally has reached it's end and it should be con-
sidered ended by all who have the best interests
of the nation at heart.