Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-29
HUGHES AND WAR Or
WILSON AND PEACE?
ITS UP To VOTERS
Political Expert H, N, Hickey
Says This Is Issue of PreSi-
Dental Campaign to Be De-
Cided by the People
BY II. N. RICKEY.

BY II. N. hickey.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. aug. 26.-It is
evident Candidate Hughes considers
Mexico the weakest spot in the Wilson
defense, for he has devoted more words
to 1t than to any other subject since
he opened his campaign.
A Mexican crisis faced President Will
son the day he was inaugurated. Crisis
has followed crisis and each one has
called for a decision by the president,
involving the question of peace or war.
The president has had to make these
decisions without regard to their pop
ularity or unpopularity. He has had to
consider their effect on the relations
between this nation and foreign ma
tions, especially those of South and Gen.
trail America. He has mad to consider
the future as well as the present welfare
of his people, and last, but not least, the
rights of Mexico.
KEYSTONE OF Foley.
I am betraying no confidence when 1
say President Wilson's determination to
keep this nation out of war, at any price
short of absolute sacrifice of national
honor, has been the keystone of the
arch of his Mexican policy.
1t is charged in the Republican plat
form, and the charge is being repeated
in every speech by Hughes, that Wilson
has neither kept us from war with Mex
leo nor saved our national honor; that
as the direct result of the vacillating
Wilson policy, conditions in Mexico are
worse today than when he took office;
az hundreds Of Americans have been
killed and millions of American prop
erty destroyc in Mexico in defiance of
our right.
RkrUoLICANS LIMIT SELVES.
Unfortunately, both the Republican
platform and the Republican candidate
limit themselves to a bitter and sweep
ing criticism of the Wilson-MeXican
policy, without suggesting what should
have been done or promising what will
be done if they get control of the gov
eminent.
Hughes has expressed a high regard
for the late Huerta, but has not said that
had he been president he would have
recognized him as president of Mexico.
Considering the well-knewn public
and private character of Huerta; that
he attained whatever power he had in
Mexico by the cowardly assassination
of friend and foe; that no considerable
number of the Mexican people believed
in him or wanted him for president;
that he represented the same clique of
grafters that for years without number,
under Diaz, had looted Mexico and kept
the great bulk of its people in ignorance
and virtual slavery, it is not strange
Hughes has hesitated to say that he
would have recognized his right to gov
ern.
The simple fact is. that aside from
any question of morals, the recognition
of Huerta by this country would not
have solved the Mexican problem. The
Mexican revolution would have con-
tinued and Huerta would have been kill
ed or driven from the country. No
xrbn I'M
its problems with an open mind has
the slightest idea that Huerta and his
methods would have been tolerated by
the Mexican people very long.
His recognition would have been no.
ticed to every cut-throat brigand in
every South and Central American coun-
try that the United States stood for
government by assassination.
The easiest way" for President Will
son would have been to recognize
Huerta. 1t would have saved a lot of
trouble, much criticism, and it may
have been good politics. But it would
have been wrong and President Wilson
is not the man to purchase political
prestige at such a price.
Having determined not to recognize
Huerta, the president began to apply
the pressure of moral forces" which
finally pushed Huerta from his seat
II was during this pressure that Ad-
miral Mayo demanded that Huerta sa-
lutte cur flag. This was a perfectly
as.nine thing to do and President Will
son knew it just as well as anybody
else.
The president was at White Sulphur
Springs trying to get a little rest when
Admiral Mayo's action was reported to
him. 1t is an open secret that he was
disguised and his first impulse prob,
ably was to repudiate the admiraPs de-
mand and reprimand him for lack of
judgment.
Had such a demand under like cir.
cumstances been made of England,
France, Germany or any other nation
with an organized government, whose
people could understand that it's Sc
pudiation did not necessarily mean
cowardice on our part, there is no doubt
President Wilson would have promptly
repudiated it.
But Mexico was different For years
the Mexican people have been fed on
the idea that the gringroes are towards
and buffers.
President Wilson backed up Admiral
Mayo's salute the flag" demand be-
cause it seemed impossible to make the
Mexican people understand that any
other course was not due to our fear
of them.
To be sure, the flag was not saluted
and this has been the cause of much
caustic comment and many flippant re-
marks.
DID NOT WANT SALUTE.
President Wilson never cared a rap
whether the flag was saluted or not. He
certainly did not propose to have war
with Mexico If il could be avoided,
whether or not the flag was saluted. The
naval and military demonstrations,
which followed were just sufficient to
Impress the MeXicans with the fact that
we had teeth if we cared TO use them.
In the final analysis, when the voter
considers the presidents Mexican policy
in connection with how he shall vote in
November, he must ask himself this
question: Does America want war or
peace with Mexico?" He must answer
that question for himself and should
bring to bear on ii all that he has OF
reason, heart and conscience.
He should not answer until he has
calmly considered what war with Mex
leo would mean-that ii would mean an
army of at least 100000 men, tens of
thousands of whom would be killed and
wounded and the expenditure of hun
dreds Of millions of dollars.
He should realize that Intervention
in Mexico would mean war against a
united people, a war which might last
for years and which would eventually
result in the spoilation and probable an
nexation of the country.
He should ask himself whether such a