The Washington herald., 1916-06-28
Mr.. Hughes Ready Issues.

Mr. 1ugneS seems TO nave no trOuDle III
finding campaign issues. He had few ready
that struck FIRE within an hour or two of his
nomination.; and his Endorsement by the Pro-
gressive National Committee brought almost
instantaneous response, suggesting others. Per-
haps the most striking feature of his message
to Secretary o. K. Davis is an ominous refer
to the attempt to fasten upon him the
stigma of the hyphen. A hint conveyed
o. a bold method of dealing with it. The Her
aid has always contended that the hyphenated
ones were rather shortsighted in their antago-
nism to President Wilson, that they might go
further and easily fare worse. Mr.. Hughes un-
dertook to show in sentence or two not only
that the administration has failed to uphold the
neutral rights of the United States but that
President Wilson's course has been decidedly
favorable to the activities of the hyphenated
conspirators. He says:
We strongly denounce the use of our soil
as a base for alien intrigues, for conspiracies
and the formenting of disorders in the interest
of any foreign nation, but the responsibility hes
the door of the administration. The moment
notice is admitted responsibility is affixed. For
that sort of thing could not continue if the ad-
ministration took proper measures to stop IT.
That responsibility the administration cannot
evade by condemnlng others.
An early abandonment of the Democratic
plan to make the hyphen campaign issue may
be forecasted without hazard.
AS might easily have been guessed at the
moment of its publication and Representa-
tive Mann proclaimed in the House, Secretary
Lansings last extended communication to the
Mexican government reviewing the long series
OF outrages committed against citizens Of the
United States, is to be used a Republican
campaign document Mexico is to be issue,
whether we are at war or peace with that coun-
try during the campaign Likewise, the Lus-
tania will be issue, whatever the status of
the diplomatic negotiations relating to it. Then
there will be the tariff and vigorous assault
upon the administrations claim OF credit for the
countrys prosperity.
No longer may the Democrats cherish the
faintest hope OF division in the Republican ranks.
Col Roosevelt and Mr. Hughes will begin to-
day to plan the campaign and whether not
the Colonel and Mr. Taft reconcile their personal
differences between and November they will
be found working to the purpose.
With the battle lines thus drawn the De-
mocracy must muster all OF its resources and put
forth all of its energies. 1t is perfectly evident
that its fate will depend to great extent upon
events of the future. If the President should be
50 fortunate as to bring the Mexican situation to
favorable termination and the nations pros
perity continues his opponents will not find it
easy matter to influence a majority OF the
voters with their oratory, telling how and why.
The SITUATION as it exists will be a weighty fac
tor at the polls
Unless there should be a decided turn of
events in direction there will be no reason
for supreme confidence on either side. The
present outlook is for a campaign such as the
country has not witnessed since Mr.. Bryan first
aspred to the Presidency.