The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1916. ELECTIONEERING IN AMERICA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 138, 14 June 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1916. ELECTIONEERING IN AMERICA.

(With which is incorporated The Tal bape Post and "Waimarino News.)

The Presidential ' election in the United States becomes of rather more than common interest to people of our Empire and to our Allies in the war owing to the influence GermanAmericans can and will exercise in connection therewith. |W'e need not take the matter very seriously, -however, as the parties in opposition to the reigning president are so split by factions having such extreme leanings that they will be impotent to depose Mr. Wilscn unless something out of the ordinary and unforseen happens. It was said at the Republican Convention that Mr. Roosevelt was "a colossal figure of American manhood," and had there been no war he would probably have once more been in sight of the presidential chair. Roosevelt i s a far-seeing' man, and, no doubt, realising {hat the influence of GermanAmerican« and the influence they exert over Irish American of the Sinn Feiner type, be was aware that through bis pro-British utterances he would have but little chance of final success, and he therefore notified the Convention that he declined nomination to avoid vote-splitting. Still his name was, in spite of his wish, put to the first vote, and his position thereon was probably the result of his expressed desire. The Anti-British element in the Republican and Progressive camps is too pronounced to allow a pro-B'ritish nominee to secure anything approaching a full party support. There were' many mad scenes at the Republican Convention, and as a dozen aspirants for the presidency were nominated, it fully disclosed the sharp divisions that must result in complete failure at the elections, unless better counsels prevail, and a reconciliation is brought about, first among Republicans themselves, then between Republicans and Progressives. The latter would undoubtedly stand by Roosevelt, but as he has now declined nomination he will probably exercise a strong influence over his p'arty in .bringing abouf< an agreement for all parties to support Mr. Hughes who, at present, seems to be the most likely figure on which the majority of votes of a very much divided Party may be focussed. An insight into Mr. Hughes' politics is given in his nomination speech, in 'which

he rather severely President [Wilson. He referred to Mr. Wilson as weak and vacillating, interfering without consistency, and that while he sought to dictate where he was not concerned, he utterly failed to appreciate the discharge of his plain duty to his own citizens. Mr. Hughes desires American diplomacy restored to the best standards; he advocates undivided Americanism; thorough preparedness both militarily and industrial; restoration of protective tariffs, and the encouragement of American commerce at home and I abroad. That is roughly Mr Hughes's platform. The Republican aspirant for the presidency first came into prominence through the great anti-trust and anti-syndicate enquiries and prosecutions, particularly as attorney in

a commission on insurance and banking methods, a proceeding that Americans then tcok a keen interest in. It was then discovered that his ability and personal honour was of a high order and when a little later h e contested the Governorship of New York with Mr. Hearst, the pro-German, he secured the public's mandate, and he held that office from 1907 to 1910. He ha s now resigned his position as an Associate judge of the Supreme Court, the highest tribunal in America, to throw all his energies into the coming election. He is, judging from his past, a man of high character, an opponent of graft and tammanyism, and is probably most sincere in his expressed desire to have American diolomacy brought up to the highest and best standard. Still, Ms chances will have to improve very much before they show anything like formidable form as opposed to those of the sitting president. Sufficient has not yet been disclosed to allow of a profitable discussion of the trading policy he would bring about, and until something more than generalities are available its discussion may be held over, more especially as it will most likely be affected to some extent by the deliberations of the Allies' Economic Conferences that are likely to go on intermittently till some time after a condition of peace has been brought about. Prom now till the presidential elections are over, Americans will have little time for any other considerations.