The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-11-09
IT'S NOT WILSON
NOR HUGHES-IT's US

4 y
sible and timely remarks about the
election:
As one reads the last outcries of the
campaign the impression strengthens
,, that this issue of Life will find large
proportion of the voters trying to for
give themselves for voting as they
did. There were very persuasive reas-
ons against voting for either candi-
date, and most of them were present
ed. Most people voted as usual ac-
cording to their hereditary political
bias without much regard to these OBJ
jections, but a great many voters did
regard them and were swayed first
this way and then that as one or an
other phase of the situation came up
permost in their minds.
There probably never was presi-
Dental election in this country in
which so many voters voted for a man
they didn't want. Thousands of votes
were cast for Wilson not from any
pleasure in Wilson but because the
alternative was to vote for Hughes.
Thousands of votes were cast for
Hughes not from pleasure in him nor
from any desire to bring back the old
republican party into Office, but be-
cause there was no other way to beat
Wilson.
| So, however the election has gone,
the country is not going to break out
into any violent blaze of joy. The
proper candidate this year would have
been the Archangel Michael. People,
uncertain themselves about the rights
and wrongs of an unprecedented sit
luation, wanted leader who they
were sure was right, and who had the
powers and the courage to make US
all do what ought to be done. St.
Michael not being available, we have
had to make choice of merely hui
man and erring intelligence. But it
has been trial, and the path ahead
looks so crooked and so stony that
there will be many hesitations either
to congratulate ourselves on the re-
suit of our efforts, or to congratulate
the winner on having won.
But at least all the 1ubdub and up
roar and charge and counter charge
of the campaign are over, and that is
basis for little solid joy. Whoever
is elected, we can now get back to
the business of living, and if Mr..
Wilson has won we can adjust our
minds at once to a prospect that will
cover four years. IL Mr.. Wilson has
won we know more or less what to
figure on. If Mr.. Hughes has got it
we must founder governmentally for
three months, and that will be trying.
But whoever is in we have got to
take what comes, and most of the
time have got to back the govern
ment. That being so we would do
well, perhaps, to think more of our
selves as the nation and not so much
of our government. After all, the
mass of US and not the president is
the main thing. 1t makes difference
what our government does, but it
does not make all the difference.
Other governments deal with our
government, but they keep one eye on
US. We are power, money, industry;
we are public opinion, and in the long
run we must be reckoned with. We
have just delegated the most con-
spicuous of our governmental powers
for another four years, but we have
not delegated all our powers. We
shall still help to run the country,
and though we shall seem to be pref
| ty helpless, and will get mighty lit
| tie credit for assistance, we shall
help and we shall count.
| What brought Mr.. Wilson's STUN
bling and inexperienced steps along
through the last two years without
disaster?
i We did.
We are the horsepower that brings
| the national car along and keeps it
moving when the going is bad and the
| guidance uncertain Look at all Mr..
Wilson's mistakes and delays-for
good measure, take the late compre-
hensive republican estimate of them
what is it that has overcome most
of the ill-effects of them? What but
the steady chug-chug of the engine
which is us?
We are good engine; let us give
ourselves that praise Bad driving
may send US to the repair shop, but
we are good engine, and if Mr..
Hughes has got in he will have the
! advantage of our excellent energies
/ just as Mr.. Wilson has had it. If Mr..
Hughes makes mistakes we will still
chug-chug up grade and over the hill;
if he gets off the road we will chug-
chug back into it again. Presidents
are all sorts; governments are all
sorts. Our national speciality is in
experienced rulers. If they get US in
!! wrong we are to blame, for we pre-
fer them unframed. But we can
stand some monKeying, for we are a
good engine.
Excuse these inflated remarks, but
certainly it is time to make them.
Whoever is elected president, come,
IN. A =. e. i.