Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-07
CHAPTER XXI.
(ContinueO
Issue of the "Hyphen'

Issue of the "Hyphen"
The president had sent Secretary
Of War Baker to the convention t.
him before the various
committees and to collaborate witt
the committee on resolutions in the
of a suitable platform.
Shortly after Mr.. Bakers arriva
in st. Louis, the question Of the at
titude of the convention and the
party toward the "hyphen" vote
came up for consideration, and there
were indications that certain mem
bers Of the committee on resolution:
were inclined to ignore the matter
of the hyphen and to remain silent
on this grave issue.
While the committee on resolu
tions was meeting in st. Louis, il
was reported to me by Mr.. Henry
c. Campbell, one Of the editors Of
the Milwaukee Journal, and devot
ed friend, that the Democratic party
through it's representatives on the
committee on resolutions, was en-
gagged in "pussyfooting on the ny
phen issue and that this would re
suit in bitter disappointment to the
country. At the time Of the re
ceipt of this telephone message from
st. Louis the president was away
from town for u day and called hi:
attention to it in the following letter
The White House, Washington,
June 10, 1916.
Dear Governor: It is clear, as
the editorial appearing in this
mornings New York World says,
that the "hyphenate vote is a
definite factor that cannot be
discredited;" and that from he
activities Of the German-Amer-
lean alliance every effort, as their
own supporters declare, should
be made to elect Justice Hughes.
That there is abundant PROOF
of this is clear, 50 that he who
runs may read. This is evident
from the attitude of the German
American press and, from the
statements of professional Ger
man agitators and from the
campaign that has been carried
on against you from the very
beginning.
I have not read the platform
to be proposed to you. The only
part that I have any real knowl-
edge of is that which you read
to me over the telephone some
nights ago; that had to do with
the question Of Americanism.
Frankly, your mention OF
Americanism is on all fours with
the declaration found in the Bull
Moose and regular Republican
platforms. The characteristic of
all these references to American
ism is vagueness and uncertain
ty as to what is really meant.
I believe that the time has come
when the Democratic party
should set forth it's position on
this vital matter in no uncertain
terms. Efforts will soon be made,
from stories now appearing in
the newspapers, by the profess
sional Communications to
dominate our convention, eith her
in an effort to discredit you or
to have embodied in the platform
some reference to the embargo
question or a prohibition against
the sale of munitions of war.
We ought to meet these things
in manly, aggressive and mill
tant fashion. 1t is for that rea-
son that suggest an open let
ter to the chairman Of the COM
mittee on resolutions, setting
forth your position in this mat
ter, so that the convention may
know before it dominates you
the things for which you stand.
Mr.. Baker, at the convention,
will doubtless know when the
representatives of the German
American alliance make their ap-
pearance, asking for considera-
ton at the hands of the commit
tee of their resolutions. AS soon
as they do, it appears to me to
be the time for you to strike.
I discussed this matter over
the telephone yesterday with
MIR. Henry c.. Campbell, one Of
our devoted friends, and editor
of The Milwaukee Journal. Mr..
Frank Polk, counselor of the
state t1epal tment, who was at
the convention, tells me that he
was discussing this matter with
Mr.. Nieman, of the Milwaukee
Journal, and that Mr.. Nieman
made the statement that both
parties were ''pussy-footing
and that he would not support
the Democratic party unless its
attitude in this matter was I'M
equivocal. When Mr.. Campbell
discussed this matter with me
over the telephone, I told him
to seT.6 me a telegram setting
forth. what he thought ought
to fine Judgment in the platform
by way of expressing our atti-
tude in the matter. This morn
ing I received the attached telc-
gram from Senator Husting, eX.
pressing Mr.. CampbGI's and
Mr.. Nielnan's views. The part
I have Underlined I think should
be expressed in less emphatic
language.
The purpose of this letter,
thel efore, is to urge you as
strongly as I can to address at
cuce an open letter to - e chair
ran of the committee on resolu-
tons, expressing fully your
views in the matter.
TUMULTY.
Repudiates Hyphen Vote
AS i result of the Husting tele
ram, the president wired Secre
airy Baker, insisting upon a def
tie and unequivocal reputation o
he hyphen. vote. The president
fighting" telegram to Baker
Which contained the substance o
fusting's telegram resulted in tn
lsertion in the platform of the fol
owing FLANK:
Whoever, az. ,sitcd by the Dur.
pose to promote the interest of
a foreign power, in disregard of
our own country's welfare or to
injure this government in its
foreign relations or cripple or
destroy its industries at home,
and whoever, by arousing pref
udices of a racial, religious or
other nature, creates discord
and strife among our people so
as to obstruct the wholesome
processes of unification, is faith
less to the trust which the privi-