Evening star., 1916-09-17
Republicans to Conduct Cam
paign Partly on Comparison
of Presidential Nominees.
SAY PRESIDENT WILSON
EVADES AND VAClLLATES
Democrats Rely on Popular Cry That
Administration Kept Us
Out of War.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

ASIDE from strictly party and
platform differences between the
democrats and republicans, if
there be any that are clearly de
fined other than the protective
tariff, this national campaign bids
fair pretty soon to divide on lines
which might be termed psyche
logical. There are indications in
plenty as we'll as actual evidence
at hand OF such drift.
Already one phase OF the impending
division is seen, and the other will be
very shortly apparent. 1t soon will be
| so acute as to be universally noticeable,
according to information obtainable.
Everybody is aware of the psycholog-
ical element upon which the admin
istration is leaning SO heavily-the
popular thought that President Wilson
kept us out of war" That there is
such a feeling widespread in the coun-
try is undeniable. Every unbiased in
vestisator who reports upon political
conditions knows 1t to be a fact.
Furthermore. it is true that 1t appeals
! to many, especially to the lay people,
| the non experts in politics and states
| manship, the busy folk. who are potter
ing around about their little anairs,
small in the gross but eXisent to them l.
selves Politicians may apply the acld
| test of logic and disintegrate the claim
to their own satisfaction. but the fact
J cannot be disputed that the feeling
| prevails.
| Ballots to Decide.
| To what degree it is to be effective in
| lulling the voters to Indifference to
other features of the campaign and to
the basic differences between the
policies and practices OF the democratic
| & nd republican parties is, of course. an
| other question, and the vital one, to
| be decided only at the polls.
/ However, the fact remains tnat the
democratic MANAGERS of hiFh and low
1 rank are relying upon this state of
mind, as it might be called. prevailing
with the public as a tower OF strength
| in the coming campaign.
| Here is the other psychological ele,
ment which will very soon be injected
| into the campaign by the republicans
and assiduously cultivated by speakers
and in every way possible until the emu
of the campaign-namely, comparison
of the character of the two candidates
/
The republicans will charge that Presl-
dent Wilson. bv character. as evidenced
in his course. is vacillatlng, eVasiVe anu
/ chaneeabIe: that his policies cannot be
youchsafed nor forecasted The republ-
cans will allege that he is an opportunist
that his course in the railway Ike Is
evidence that he will seize upon anything
to perpctuate himself in office and ms
partv in power. and that he will stop at
nothing TO achieve these ends
From these allegations the republicans
will argue that such character renoers
him unsafe as an executive and that MS
dominance over d SubServlent Congress
increases the menace to the country
| There is no question that this line OF at
tack is to be followed with vigor by the
republicans throughout the campaign
Republican Program.
The republicans propose to go ahead
upon the belief entertained by them that
President Wilson shook the confidence of
the people in him by his summary action
in the railway strike. They expect to APP
PEAL effectively to the business men and
to the conservative element in all pa06teS
with this line of allegation and argument.
For Mr. Hughes will be claimed the
possession of judicial temperament, ae-
sressiveness, courage and directness. as
shown by his record as governor and
Judge His fearleSsneSS in taking up the
issue of the coercion of Congress In be-
half of section of wage earners will be
cited
Mexican Coup Anticipated.
Politicians and side line observers in
both parties are expecting a coup by
the administration in the Mexican situ-
alton some time in October, the esti-
mates setting il close upon the eve of
the elections. The republicans hear in
timations of it and are uneasy. They
do not quite know what it is to be. but
fear that the President is getting ready
to hand them something" as they pat
it.
They feel that the action in the rail-
way strike was--to express it politely
and not use their expression of a
frame up''-opportune, and while they
are confident that they will benefit in
the end by that, they do not feel SO
sure of some dramatic play over Mexico,
which they apprehend the admiuistra-
ton is getting ready to make.
High Lights of the Campaign.
At this stage of the campaign, while
primaries are still impending in some
Of the important states, only the broad
outlines OF The campaign are discussed
the general drift of politics and public
sentiment measured MaSSa chuSetts
the big states yet to hold their pri-
maries for the nomination of candidates
on state and congressional tickets.
Only surface and broad indications
of the trend of sentiment are available.
therefore, at this time. They are sub
iect to revision as candidates take the
field and specific conditions begin to de-
velop But, speaking generally. and
seven weeks in advance of campaign
that promises to be the most intense
since 1896. and which may produce
many surprises and swift and dramatic
changes, it is possible to talk of what
appears to be in the political atmos-
phere.
Trend Toward Republicans.
Competent political observers here,
whose judgment has been justified in
the mast, tell The Stars correspondent
that New York. New Jersey and Con-
necticut seem to be trending toward the
ranublicans at this time. They do not
hase their assertion upon the Maine
election That was confirmatory of a
condition which they before thought
existent, they say. Maine. they con-
tend. was but block in a political mo-
New York. New Jersey and Connecti-
cut these observers maintain, contain
more republican than democratic voters.
They say they can see no indications of
a change of form in these masses.