The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-26
ROOSEVELT OR HUGHES?

As the time for the converting of
the Republican National Convention
draws near, the movement TO nom
mate Justice Hughes appears to be
crystalizing. Not that he is identified
with any definite or known policy of
national affairs, not that anyone
knows his views on either the inter-
nal or foreign policies that should
dominate the government in the pres
lent disturbed and warning conditions
of the world, but rather that his 81
lence for the last six or sever years
on the Supreme Bench in relation to
vital national issues are unknown and
therefore cannot be criticised; and
for the further reason, that the Re-
publicans have little or no hope to
win with any of the other ambitious
aspirants and "favorite sons" who
have been named in connection with
the Republican nomination. Roose-
welt is giving the Republicans good
deal of trouble. He is clearly max
ing bid for the Republican nomina-
ton, but his bolt from Republican
regularity four years ago that came
so near disintegrating the party is
still remembered with undated bit
terness by the Old Guard standpatters,
and they want none of him though
his nomination might in way salts
fly his champions and go far toward
healing the breach in the party.
A refusal to nominate Roosevelt
and the selection of any of the other
aspirants of party regularity, would
certainly bring on the same condition
that the Republican party faced four
years ago, for there is little doubt
that the Progressive Republican Ma
tional Convention, which meets as
menace the same week and in the same
city as the Regular Republican Ma
tional Convention, will nominate him
or barter with the regulars in an eff
fort to force his nomination on the
latter. He could not we'll refuse the
| Progressive nomination if rendered
and no one knowing his natural com
battiveness, strenuousness and self
assertion, believes that he would.
Hence popular feeling in the Repub-
lican party and among some of it's
leaders is turning to Justice Hughes
as a possible solution of the situa-
ton, though he has studiously and
sphynx-like avoided giving any hint
as to whether he would give up COW
eted lifetime seat on the bench of the
highest judicial tribunal in the land to
accept the leadership. of a doubtful
political campaign.
Since he has been on the bench he
has done nothing that has attracted
public attention or commentator his
way. 1t is true that before his APP
pointment to his present position by
President Taft he was Governor of
the State of New York, and while he
made nominally fair executive he
gave little evidence of broad states
manship or of virile leadership. He
shone best as lawyer. AS a nation
al leader he would be under the direc-
ton and influence of the old stand
pat party bosses as much as if Root,
or Weeks or Sherman, or any Of the
other men who have been mentioned
in connection with the nomination., ex-
| cept perhaps Roosevelt who is too
self-sure to submit readily to man
agement, but would be inclined to go
his own way and sure to give utter
ance to some wild extravaganza of
national policy. Even if he should
not there is so much of that sort of
thing in his writings and speeches
that the German vote, which the Re-
publican bosses and politicians are so
fagrantly coddling, would be frighten-
ed away. 1t is mooted question
whether Mr.. Roosevelt would sur
render to the nomination of Justice
Hughes, as the activities of the Roos-
evelt League and the Colonel him
self have foreboding look.
And so the anything to beat Will
son" plan of the Republicans is in a
bad shape, while Mr.. Wilson stands
before the country with united par
ty behind him and a platform of con-
structive and wholesome achieve
ment that appeals alike to our admit
ration, 'Americanism, love of peace and
worldwide humanity. His defeat at
this time would be nothing short of
a calamity to the country.
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