AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 46

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

,—<»» WASHINGTON, June 13. President Wilson, sneaking to the West Point Military Academy graduates, declared that the United States must be prepared, so that mankind would know that when America spoke she meant what she said. The President warned them to be ready for any eventualities, as there was no knowledge what a day might bring forth. Air Hughes, outlining his Presidential platform, asserts his intention of upholding a policy of thoroughgoing Americanism, as opposed to all "hyphenated" activity. June 14. R. mev states that the Democratic Convention opened at St. Louis with the usual speeches. There is every expectation that President Wilson and Vicepresident Marshall will be renominated by acclamation. President Wilson, during a patriotic address at Washington, rebuked the disloyally of a small minority of citizens of foreign extraction (undoubtedly referring to German sympathisers), saying that at tins moment they were trying to "levy a sort of political blackmail under a threat of vengeance at the polls." It is believed the President thus voiced one of the issues of the campaign which will be incorporated in the Democratic platform. June 16. President Wilson was renominated by acclamation for President, and Air Alarshail for Vice-president, at the Democratic Convention. June 16. At the St. Louis Convention the Democratic platform condemned the presence of hyphenated Americans as subversive to American unity, and as destructive of the nation's welfare. It repudiated their efforts to influence the United States Government and denounced existing conspiracies on the question of neutrality. The platform held that the United States must use its power not only to make itself safe at home, but to secure its just interests throughout the world, affirming the right of small States to live their own lives and to choose their own sovereignty. It believed the time had arrived for America to join with other nations to prevent wars. Emphasis was laid on the American assertion of the fundamental rights of small States as against the mere question of property, and said that in this respect the Wilson Administration had maintained the highest traditions of the United States.

The platform, which was adopted, contains a plank condemning vigorously all combinations of individuals, of whatever nationality ot descent, conspiring for the purpose of embarrassing the Government and improperly coercing public representatives in dealing with any foreign Power. This is intended to rebuke the Teutonic propagandists. Other planks declare for the freedom of the seas and the encouragement of American shipping. Mr Roosevelt's friend, Mr Perkins, after conferring with the Republican leaders, intimated that the Republicans and the Progressives were going together in support of Mr Hughes. LONDON. June 14.

German newspapers are delighted at Mr Hughes ousting Mr Roosevelt jot the Republican nomination for the United Sb:t»s Presidential election. ROME, June 17.

The Cologne Gazette states that the German-Americans, on whose votes the decision may rest, are on Mr Hughes's side. They will now have an opportunity of paying' back President Wilson's false and hvpocritical neutrality and his attacks on their American nationality.