Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-10-26
THE HUGHES DISAPPOINTMENT.
New York Evening Post.)

Mr.. Hughes is just rounding out
another speaking tour. The ma
ture of his campaign may now be
regarded as fixed. He can hardly
make an essential change in il
before election. Indeed, there is
no reason to think that he sup
poses any change desirable. He
acts like a man proceeding on a
predetermined plan: and he is not
one lightly to abandon a settled
purpose. 1t is known that COM
plants and even protests have
been made to him. Reports OF
dissatisfaction with his course
have been laid before him. But
in strong self-sufficiency he has
brushed them all aside. He is
entirely content to pursue the
line he has been following. There
is no likelihood that anything will
cause him to swerve from it be-
fore November Z. Isolated flashes
of fire may come from him moro
frequently: but the main tenor of
his speaking will doubtless re-
main what it has been. We need
wait no longer TO pass judgment
on the character and effect of his
campaign for the presidency.
That it has been woeful dis
appointment to his friends and
admirers there can be no manner
OF doubt. The evidence leaps into
ones face. On all sides you dis
cover the depression which the
Hughes speeches have caused. On
every side detected Hughes men
are to be encountered. They are
going to vote for him, most of
them, but they will do it without
particle Of enthusiasm. They
have not been stirred or thrilled.
More than that, their intellectual
expectation and craving have not
been met. They looked up eagerly
but they have not been fed. This
fact is universally admitted. Peo-
pie have left off discussing it.
The thing that interests them is
the explanation of the fact, if
anybody can produce it. How has
it happened that the man from
whom so much was expected by
his friends and feared by his foes,
has left behind him trail of
thickening disappointment?
No one could i'll advance have
believed it possible. In the pres
ence OF the fact, now undeniable,
people are bewildered. They feel
that the incredible has taken
place. If Mr.. Hughes had not
left the bench to run for the pres
idency, everybody would be say
ing what wonderful campaign
he would have madel What has
become of his old quality to which
New York rose? The question
has an importance that outstrips
partisan politics. IT is a public
loss that we have suffered. 1t
IS as if one of our most assured
national assets had melted away
under our eyes. The Hughes fail
ure is, indeed, something like a
calamity. We feel intellectually
poorer. 1t is as if props had been
knocked from under US. In no
one can this feeling of surprise
ard almost dismay be stronger
than in the Evening Post. 1t is
not necessary to say what hopes
we pinned to Mr.. Hughes. II
others are cast down by the re-
srlt, we are more so. All that is
left is sorrowfully TO speculate
about the causes of the great dis
appointment.
Some hold that Mr.. Hughes has
been hampered by bad advice; has
I6en dictated to by tinid and mar
row party managers. 1t was said
of General Taylor, in 1913, that
. was lin the hands of the COM
L ittee." We cannot believe this
OF Mr.. Hughes. Whatever the
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