New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-21
THE WAR AND THE ELECTION
A. Progressive Who Voted for Wilson
Explains His Decision
Ji,or Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I was one of the Progressives and
former Republicans who voted for Mr. VIII
son. have always had high regard Ioi
Mr. Hughes-admired his course while Gov
ernor: but as a candidate for the Presidency
his utterances were disappointing to me IN
one respect Rightly or wrongly, beileVeo
that the most important issue before the
American people was the attitude of the
nation toward the great war. Iheodore
Roosevelt voiced what | felt when he rear
lessly denounced the crushing OF innocent
Belgium, the bombardment by aerial war
craft of defenceless town populations ano
the monstrous brutality of the sinking OF
the Lusitana without warning. was ioi
this courageous leader with all my heart
but the Republican National Convention
would not have him.
The man named In his stead gave no such
outspoken disclosures Of how he felt toward
those matters which seemed to me OF fore
most importance to the civilized world. once
az 7 remember it, when he was asked by
nersistent heckler what he would have done
! in the Lusitania case, he answered that he
]
fairs that the liner would not have been
sunk. a reply which to me did not seem al
together convincing. He was definite enough
as regard Mexico, the tariff and other ques'
tions but on those matters which | have
mentioned. and on which great numbers OF
mis- fellow countrymen would have hung on
his words with deepest interest, ne was silent
or spoke only in generalities. 1t did not
seem to me that he got much beyond the
statement that If elected President ne would
enforce American rights abroad, which was
good as far as it went.
| do not say that the United States should
have entered the war on the side OF Ger
many or that they should do so now. believe
we are bound to show due consideration
| for the millions Of our fellow countrymen
of German blood, who have had so important
part In building up this country. But
do not think we owe 1t to them, nor do the
best of them demand that our public mer
should sidestep great questions which have
come with this war, should fail to condemn
international wrongs which affect all the
world. should hesitate to express detesta-
tion of acts which violate the hitherto ac-
cepted practices of civilized warfare. / know
men of German descent whose opinions coin
eide with mine on those matters.
voted for Governor Whitman and ma
jority of the other candidates on the Re
publican ticket, but when IL came TO Presi-
| dent the choice seemed TO lie between can
didate who was an unknown quantity in the
respect which have mentioned and Chief
Executive who, while he had not gone as faI
as many Of US had wished, had yet forced
the Kaiser TO greatly modify the ruthlessness
of his submarine warfare, had done enough
to draw upon himself the bitter hatred OF
that element which would like TO make THIS
country the tool of Prussian militarism and
if il were possible, TO embroil us in wal
against the Allies.
It il true that some of the domestic leg
islation which the President had champloned
notably the currency bill, the child LABOR
bill. the income tax bill, abolition Of Panama
Canal tolls, the rural credits bill, etc, made
il easier for me TO vote for Mr. Wilson.
Utica, n. Y, Nov. II, 1916. l. l.. u