New-York tribune., 1918-10-30
Criticises President for Gre
ating Political Strife
i'm Crisis
Insists Congress
Is Nations Voice
"People Have Right To Be
Heard" He Tells the
Republicans

In an address before the Union
League Club last night, Charles Evans
Hughes deplored President Wilson's re-
cent appeal to the nation to elect only
Democratic Congressman at the forth
coming election.
Mr.. Hughes, who is president Of the
historic club, reminded his hearers that
he had been absent from them for sew
eral months while engrossed in diff
cult task in the field of Americas war
activities the investigation of the con-
duct of the airplane programme.
Pointing out that they were met in
the exercise of their right to express
their political preferences, the former
Supreme Court justice evoked roar
of approval when he asked:
"And why should we not express
them? Have We no interests at stake,
no loved ones in the ranks, no hearts
responding to tie nations call, no sac
rifices to endure? Is our contribution
in lives, in devotion, in fortune, in
readiness to serve, so slight that we
must forego the privilege Of effective
representation in the nations coun-
ellis? Are We to give up the right of
suffrage, or, # we arc to be permitted
TO exercise that right, is vote for
Democratic Congressman and Demo-
cratic Senator'S and Democratic state
candidates to be the final test of SER
vice to the nation ?"
rp-.uent of All the People
There was prolonged applause when
Mr.. Hughes said:
eve shall support the President as
the President, not as the President of
a party. not as the President Of half
the nation, but as the President of
the entire nation, as he acts accord
ing to the genius of our institutions
and we shall save him from the lesser
dignity and influence of mere party
leadership"
Robert C. Morris, in presenting their
long absent president to the members
of the club, referred to him as "Gover-
nor Hughes" and some one in the
gathering rose and called for "three
cheers for our Governor" When the
room was quiet once more Mr.. Hughes
said:
"My old friends, this warns my
heart"
Mr.. Morris, who is chairman of the
campaign committee Of the Union
League Club, in discussing the issues
Of the campaign in New York State,
said
I'VE had thought that the reelection
of state government that had distin-
euished itself by its high patriotism
would in itself be as eloquent an in
oorsement of the war as this splendid
state could give. Not so, Washington
tells us. Only the triumph of Tam
many Hail. we are informed, will real
~ strike terror to the heart of the
Kaiser
What confessedly partisan leaders
may say is one thing, but when the
President, who is President of all the
people, who is President Of the Repub-
licans as we'll as of the Democrats, is
sues from the White House a statement
which practically says that Democrats
are the only patriots and that Repub-
lcans who insist on voting for Repub-
lican candidates are virtually traitors
he has committed an act for which we
shall find no parallel in our history"
Mr., Hughes was greeted with cheers
when he arose to speak. He said in
part:
Right of Preference
We meet once more in this historic
and patriotic club in the exercise of
no right which no one can deny US of
expressing our Political preferences
Permit me a personal word at the
outset. For several months have
continued on page Sir)