The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-03
(By Vance c. Mccormick )


 Woodrow Wilson should be re- elected because he has made good. The people owe it to themselves to continue him another term in the White House. Do you suppose that the stockholders of a corporation would kick out general manager who, in a grave crisis, was fitted by rich experience, proved ability and scrupulous integrity to successfully cope with impending complications The rich experience, the proved abil- ity and the schupulous integrity of President Wilson are abundantly es- tablished by his successful handling not only of the domestic affairs, but the foreign relations of the nation through the most turbulent period of American history. The record con stitutes a debt of gratitude that can be paid in no better way than by a vote of confidence.
 It is obviously impossible for me fully to amplify the multitude of req sons that cry out for the reelection of President Wilson in the space al' lotted me.
 They are written large and legibly in the legislative enactments of the two Congresses that have lived con- temporaneousfy with his administra- ton. and in the archives of the State Department at Washington, wherein reposes the record of Americas ne- gotiations with foreign powers per- taining to international law and our relations with the nations of the wOrld-a record crowned with the most notable diplomatic victories of all time
 We are living at critical time in the worlds history The situation is pregnant with the gravest possibili- ties. The defeat of President Wilson would be accepted by the nations of the world as repudiation by the American people of a foreign policy that "has kept us out of war" and at the same time maintained the his toric honor and dignity of the United States. Chaos and uncertainty with respect to our foreign relations would follow. With the defeat of the Presi- dent, the American people, for the period of four months constituting the interval between the election and inauguration, would stand before the world without responsible spokes- man. It would be an invitation to the foreign powers to utterly disregard the rights of America and Americans "a condition that would subject the country to danger and humiliation.
 The Republican candidate protests that he is potential president and as such refuses to indicate what will be his foreign policy in the event of his election--a contingency that I regard as highly improbable. In the absence of any specific declaration as to bis course respecting our foreign rela- tions, it Is fair and proper to deduce from his reluctant admissions con- cerning the Lusitania disaster what his policy will be.
 Candidate Hughes says, if his words are understandable, that he would have broken off diplomatic relations with Germany. if he had been Presi- dent at the time the Lusitania was torpedoed. This would have meant WAR.
 Candidate Hughes Ichief spokes- man, Colonel Roosevelt, in more spe- cific and emphatic terms, proclaims loudly that he would have seized all German ships ipterned in American waters at the time of the Lusitania disaster. This would have been in utter disregard and fragrant violation of international law and our treaties, and, this, too, would have meant WAR.
 It is therefore no perversion of the facts to say that the election next week will afford the people of Amer lea an opportunity of deciding as be- tween peace with honor and war with misery. am aware that MT. Hughes and his managers resent the imputa- ton, but I call upon the people ito udge for themselves and decide whether there is any alternative, ex- cept WAR, for the foreign policy that has been pursued by the President.
 Since the happiness of the people and the future prosperity of the coun- try are inseparably involved in the peace of the nation, regard it as singularly fortunate fdr the people campaign) that tho most specific ut terance credited to the Republican candidate leaves no doubt that his election would plunge the country into WAR.
 If his continual attacks upon the foreign policy of the administration do not Justify this conclusion. then what do they mean? It is, of course, true that most of his speeches and public utterances are pleasant plati- tudes, and mean nothing--and in this very fact are embodied abundant other reasons why the American peo- pie should not swap horses while crossing a stream
 The people know, and the nations of the world know, what is the policy of the Wilson Administration. A re- cord of splendid achievements cover ing a period of three years and half leaves no question as to where MT. Wilson stands on every domestic and international question that has arisen. or may arise.
 The people would like to know, and they have a right to know, if MT. Hughes will repeal, emasculate or im- pair the Federal Reserve law, if he is elected. He has criticized some fea- lures of the law, but he has made no specific declaration, It is significant that certain of the ''big business in terests that are aiding his candidacy are very much opposed to the decen- tralization of the banking power-a cardinal feature of the law-that re- Ieved the banking, commercial, in- dustrial and agricultural interests of America from the baneful and dicta- torial influence of Wall street.
 5Tho n,1vnraarv of tho resu1fS