The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-26

Progressives to support Charles Evans
Hughes. tho Republican nominee for
President, follows In full:
"To the Progressive National Com
mittec.
Gcntlemen--In accordance with the
message I cent to the Progressive ma
tional convention as soon as / had re-
ccived tho notification that II Ind nom
mated me for President, i now COM
n,unicate to you my reasons for de-
clining the honor which I so deeply ap-
preciate.
Since the adjournment OF the conven-
tion l have received between two and
three thousand letters and kilograms
from men who had supported me for
the nomination, the majority express
ing the desire that I would refuse to
run. while a minority urged that I
should accept the nomination.
As It Is physical imposs,bility TO
answer these letters and telegrnms in
dividually. beE OF the courtesy Of the
sendo RS that they will accept this pub
lie statement In lieu OF such answers.
Lauds Character
OF Progressives.
Before tpcal;inG Of anything else. I
wish to express my heartiest and most
unstinted admiration fer the character
and services Ct the men and women
who made up thL Progressive national
convention In 1917. I can give them no
higher praise than TO say that In all
respects they stood level with the mon
and women who IN 1912 Joined at Chi
cayo TO found the Progressive party.
These two conventions. In character
In 'disinterestedness. In vision, In insight
IN nigh purpose. and In desire to render
practical service to the people. typlfied
exactly what such bodies ought to be In
a great self governing democracy. They
represented the spirit which moved
Abraham Lincoln and his political asso-
cistes during the decade preceding the
close Of the civil war.
Most Important
Document Since Lincoln.
The platform put forth In 1912 was
much the most important public docu-
ment promulgated In this country since
the death CT Abraham Lincoln. 1t rep
resented the first effort on . largo
scale to translate abstract formulas
OF economic and social justice into con-
crete American nationalism; the effort
10 apply the principles Of Washington
and Lincoln to the need Of the United
states In the twentieth century.
No finer cf:ort was ever made to serve
loyalty to ali that 10 loftiest In the
American tradition.
Events have shown that the Progress
sive party In 1912 offered the only al
Tentative e. the triumph Of the Demo-
cratic party. Moreover. these events
D. oh thuS ha Of hA
principles which we then advocated 10
even more recessory to this nation than
we at. tho time supposed.
Each Man Must
Be Brothers Keeper.
The results OF the terrible world war
of the pest two years have now made It
evident TO all who are willing to see.
that In this country there must be
spiritual and Industrial preparedness.
along the lines OF efficiency, OF loyal
service &c the ration. and of practical
application Of the precept that each
nan must be his brothers keeper.
Furthermore, II Is no less evident
that this preparedness for the tasks Of
peace forms the only sound basis for
that indispensable military preparedness
which rests on universal military train
ing. and which nnds expression in uni
versal obligatory service In time OF war
Such universal obligatory training and
service are the necessary complementi
realization OF the true American. the
democratic, ideal In both peace and
war.
Shall Continue
To Work for Ideals.
Sooner or later the national principles
championed by the Progfessives OF 1871;
must In their general effect be en-
bodied in the structure OF our national
existence.
With all my heart I shall coRtInss
to work for these great ideals, shosl-
der to shoulder with the men and
won,cm who In 1912 eha,npionca them
aud I nm sure that these men Rnd
women will show n like loyalty 10 the
other. the fundamental. ideals which
the events Of the pnst two years have
proven to be vital To the sermanency
of our national existence.
The method by which we nre "a
show our loyalty to these ideals must
he determined In each case by the net
uaI event. Our loyalty In to the fact
to the principle, to the ideal. and not
merely TO the name, and least Of all
10 the party name
Great Impetus Given
Progressive Movement.
The Progressvie movement has beer
given an incalculable impetus By
what the Progressive party has done
Our strongest party antagonists hav'
accepted and enacted into law, or en-
bodied in their party platforms. yer,
many OF our most important prin
Much has been accomplished II
awakening the public to a better un
derstanding OF the problems of socia
and Industrial welfare.
Yet II has become entirely evfden
that the people under existing con
ditions are not prepared to accept I
new party.
1t In Impossible for US Progressive
to abandon our convictions. But W,
nre faced with the fact that ~ thing
acttalIy are the Progressive ma
tionai: organisation no longer OFFER
the means whereby We can max
these convictions effective in our ma
tional life.
Under such circumstances, our dut
Is to do the best we can, and not 4
suIk because our leadership So re
Icctcd.
Must Face Situation
Good Humoredly.
That we ourselves continue to be
i