Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1916 — Thomas A. Edison Tells Why All Americans Should Vote For Woodrow Wilson [ARTICLE]

Thomas A. Edison Tells Why All Americans Should Vote For Woodrow Wilson

This is an interview from Thomas A. Edison, who has always been a republican in politics, but who says this is no tune to talk in terms of republicanism and democracy. This interview is one of the greatest contributions to the campaign of 1916 by any American.

’ “Times are too serious to talk • terms of republicanism or demo- ; cracy,” said Mr. Edison. “Parties ■ are all right. Reckon we’ve got to , have them with,our system of'gov- ■ ernment, but when it’s America , that’s at stake men have got to J vote as Americans and not as . democrats or republicans./ “This man Wilson has had a ; mighty hard time of it. I don’t believe there ever was a president who had so mpny big questions to decide, as many problems to solve. One has followed the other and now and then they have come in bunches. ■ “When you look the result over it s so good that criticism comes close to being nothing more than cheap fault finding. A fool or a coward would have had the United States in all sorts of trouble. As it is, we are at peace, the country was never more prosperous and we have the strength that comes from honor and integrity of purpose. “Wilson preserved the rights of humanity and conserved the future generations. Wilson has won victories by diplomacy that are far more important to mankind than any victories that we could have won by war. President Wilson’s Mexican policy has been wise and just and courageous. “At the time of the invasion of Belgium not a single paper or a

public man ever thought of anything but keeping the United States out of the European hprror. “Wilson came to the front with his proposition for tariff commission. That’s sense. The tariff is a scientific affair not political at all. A tariff commission lifts the whole business out of politics. “It has just been one big thing after another with Wilson. I have never known so t many dangerous questions brought up for decision to any one president. Look at the general railroad strike that piled up on top of Mexico and all the other things. Why, if carried through such a strike would throw the whole country into confusion and would prove a calamity that would have disastrous results bound to extend over a long period of time. I think he arose to the occasion splendidly just as he has risen to every other occasion that called for courage and wisdom. “In my opinion Mr. Hughes, if president, would have found it difficult to decide on the best course for the government to take in such matters. His capacity for hindsight, as we learn from his speeches, is highly developed; but ■ as to his foresight, we are not I equally well informed. < “They say Wilson has blundered. I Perhaps he has, but I notice that ' he usually blunders forward.” «