The Detroit times., 1916-07-29

tent or else dangerous That could
be asserted BY no impartial man oi
either Presiten, Wilson or Gov.
Hughes Both are personally 81
presidential size
Behind the candidates stand their
parties. but party names never
meant 90 little 10 Americans as a.
present The numbers who will vote
the straight" ticket. simply because
II is labeled Republican or Demo
cratic, must Be less than ever be
fore. The Progressive breakup Is
only symptomatic OF the general OBJ
literat!ng OF old party lines The
two platforms really raise no sharp
issues One might almost be sub
st!'p,ed for the other Both read
a. ~ written by men who held witn
the old English politician that - Ia
announcement 70 have opinions az
least 20 have opinions which cannon
BE altered In the course of the con-
test Herein lies in truth. tho g-cat
reason why independents tn-iine 20
wait until they know what me cast
Z For the campaign - yet 20 be de-
fined Today % Is confused Every
thirS v .Ii DEPEND EpOu The course OF
events and upon the way IN which
give Us the watrhworis - debate
and the true leading - party
with such great things sull let
contingent IL - impossible for
Journal that wishes 20 maintain an
independents iudgrSent 20 pledge 81
seIf whole heartediy, - this stare
pers are already finding how awk-
ward 10 IL 20 have promised sup
port" TO nominee whom they vet
feel compelled 20 ~rltiria". depr ~cht-
inEly The fact ls that no man can
predict the development 81 the cam
paign How the Errsrc0n war may
enter into our polite. what f.rr
the Mexican dtfH-Ilty may take and
parties and of candidate the utssst
cannot fnresee Nor can one tell IN
advance what sither Hughes NJ W D.
con will do We might FOR example
feel very much drawn 20 NJ
Hughes on account ~ his record. his
character. hiR yigor, hts al F0cacy ~
and other parts - Ma ,proErsm1te
but supnose we found him turning
out a rniiitariSt and a swAst hucklirE
lingo. or wallowing again IN IN"
miro Of high protsCttOr--could 10
refrain from speaking our mind free
~ about such matters similarly. u
President Wilson were 90 mark his
effort "a. he reelected by further cool
trtnes or by AFFECT yielding 20 ppii-
ticiAns Of the haser sort or by cater
ing 20 this Cr that vote. or by in
flaming foreign controversial 80 As
10 make himself appear the horse
that could not be swarp~d crossing
a stream, we ought 70 be. and shall
be free 70 criticize him
We DO no, say that either "andi-
date will stoop 20 any course mean
or psriloIn. or taxi ak In. line ,whtsh
vould MAKE ~ lbIlc guy 20 %.
the clear position Of each will be
there IL nothing FOR ~ but 20 wait
and TO hold ourselve. In readiness
10 write exactly what ~ think
shout each speoch Of acceptance. and
the campaign utteranccs Of Governor
Hughes and President wilson or Of
views This H. 70 be the attitude ~
Tho Nation II intends 20 discuss
the unfoldings ~ tho Presidential
campaign with the utmost freedom
In criticism OF Mr.. Hughes tends ~
make votes for President Wilson
that IL not our lookout. Nor will
the blame fall upon us ~ Mr. Wilson
must strongly dissent. With The Sf-
feet % appearing 20 aid Mr. Uugh"ss
Thomas Arnold that the time. would
not bear man who said precisely
what he thought he replied. u DO
not undsrFtand how the times can
has the resolution 20 do" Not that
the Nation takes 20 itself any credit
for swearing allepiancs 20 neither
party in this campaign. II IL only
what hundreds OF thousands Of In
depe ndent- nj nded citizens all about
us are doing In the end. ~ course
~ may be necessary 10 make de-
oision. n viii probably be case
only OF preponderating evidence
but, az Mil said. n man 10 bound 20
yield his mind 70 that with full as
sent ~ ~ - all that is ohtainabie
Ard when the campaign has been
completely shaped. N may be pos
slbie 10 state which side. In our
opinion has the better % the APP
peal 10 the country. and % which
candidate for the Presidency the
destinies ~ the nation can more
safely be entrusted. The Nation.