The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1916. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2743, 11 April 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1916. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

It is quite clear that the war is going to play an important part in the Amorican Presidential election, which will take place towards the end of the present year—on Tuesday, November 7. The battle has already begun, and a hard-fought battle it

promises to bo. A cablegram which appeared in yesterday's issue announced that a movement has been

started to induce Mr. Elihu Root to

come forward as the' Republican candidate. It is stated that the move-

ment is being extensively favoured, even among Mr. Roosevelt's friends, and it is believed that Mr. Root will "probably allow' himself to be nominated if a satisfactory measure of .support is forthcoming. Mr. Root's views on foreign policy found strong expression in a speech delivered in New York on February 15, a report of which was published in Saturday's Dominion. Mr. Root was most emphatic in his condemnation of the manner in which President Wilson is handling tho difficult problems arising out of .the war. ,He declared that American diplomacy has lost its authority and influence because the Government has been bravo in words and irresolute in action. "No man should draw a pistol who dares not shoot. Tbe Government that shakes its fist first and its finger afterwards falls into contempt." Mr. Root asserted that tbe American Government failed to rise to the demands of the great occasion when it shrank from speaking the truth about Belgium. "That vital error,'" he said, has carried into every effort of American diplomacy "the weakness of a false position." In Mr. Root the Allies have a- firm friend. His friendship is just as strong as that'of. Me. Roosevelt, though he may not express his opinions'with all that unrestrained and picturesque forecfulncss which characterises the ex-President's criticism of the foreign policy of the Wilson Administration. There can be no doubt that the Democratic. Party are ndrvous regarding the Presidential election. The outlook is extremely uncertain. The suggestion: appears to Have, been made that, in view of the unexampled crisis through which the world is now passing, there should be no coiltest for the Presidency, but.that all parties should unite in support of Mb. Wilson for a second term. This proposal found very little favour' in any of tho political camps, and has been brushed aside as unworthy of serious consideration. The Republicans are determined to make a great effort to secure the overthrow of the existing Government, but they have not yet produced their candidate. Mr. Wilson definitely entered the field as the Democratic candidal* when, in January last, he gave authority for the use of his name for nomination in the Indiana Presidential primaries. Mn. Roosevelt has not yet made a straight-out pronouncement regarding his intentions. It is impossible 4o say at present whether he is willing to stand out of the contest himself, and use his influence to secure the election of Mr. Rcot, or some other, candidate. At the beginning of the year the two men whose'possible candidature on the Republican ticket received most attention were Justice Hughes and Mr. Roosevelt. , "To say that the Colonel is going to run is inaccurate," says the Boston, Globe. "He is not going to run! The Colonel is now running at the rate of 110 miles a-n hour, and is gaining speed." This seems definite enough, and it finds support in the pleasure expressed by Mb. Charles S. Bird, a leader of the Massachusetts Progressives, at the possibility of Me. Roosevelt being, the next President, with Mr. Root as his Secretary of State. But a more recent statement by Mr. Roosevelt himself puts a different complexion on tho matter., I am interested (ho said) in awakening my fellow countrymen to the need for facing unpleasant facts. I am interested in tho triumph of the great principles for wlucli with, ail my heart and soul I-havo striven and shall continue to strive. •,]' will not enter into any light for'the nom-

ination, and I will not' permit any' fac. tio.ual light; to be made in my behalf. Indeed, I will go further and say that it would be a mistake to nominate me unless the country has in its mood something of the heroic, unless it feels not only like devoting itself to ideals, but to the purposo measurably to realise those ideals in action. This is one of those rare times which come only at long intervals in a nation's history, when tho action taken dcteimines the basis of the life of the generations that follow. Such times were those from 1770 to 1789, in the days of Washington, and from 1858 to ISGS, in the days of Lincoln. It is for us of to-day to .grapple with tho tremendous national iiml international problems of. our own hour in tho epint and with tho Ability shown by those who uphold" tho hands of Washing'toii and Lincoln. Since the above statement was made the movement in favour of Mr. Root's candidature has been started, and at the present time no one can say on 'whom the final choice of the- Republicans will fall. Will it bo Mr. Roosevelt, or Justice Hughes, or Mr. Root? Or perhaps some other candidate may come to the front in the near future. Amidst all this uncertainty, this one thing is certain—that the Republicans will havo to find a very strong man before they can reasonably hope to defeat Mr. Wilson. The effect of Mr. Wilson's advocacy of preparedness has to bo taken into account. His pronouncement in favour of a larger army and stronger navy has to a certain extent taken the wind out of the 6ails of his opponents. His policy of preparedness indicates that ho has abandoned the opinion that America is too proud to fight. The Washington correspondent of the Mornina Fast thinks that if the President will only realise in time that Germany is playing with him and will dismiss the German Ambassador, there is the strongest probability that the country will rally to his side, and that I lie would sweep to victory at the coming election, independent of GermanAmerican support. If, however, thai Progressives decide to amalgamate i with the Republicans in the support: of a really strong man with an in-1 spiring personality, determined to uphold the prestige of the nation, this year's Presidential contest, should ''rove a close and exciting one.