Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-31

ter; the great thing is the carrying
out of pledges.
When the Democracy carries the
Congressional elections next fail it
Will not carry them on the tenets of
its platform alone The Republicans
saw the handwriting on the wall two
years ago and promised downward re-
vision of the tariff; and in matters Of
| conservation, the regulation of trans
portation and the control of abuses of
corporate power the avowed position of
the two parties is much the same. But
the Republicans have not moral power
enough to give to the country the
things which they promised; the ma
ton will turn to the Democracy to get
precisely the things it vainly hoped to
realize from the vote of 1905 The Re-
publicans having come TO the Demo
cratic position on the tariff, so far as
promises are concerned, the contest is
based upon confidence in moral power
rather than an opinion.
Now the other great fact is that the
opportunity to execute the mandate
given by the people when they go to
the polls next November will not come
at once Even if a Democratic major
ity is elected it cannot organize the
House until December, 1911, unless
President Taft should decide to con
vene special session at an earlier
date, as he did in case of the present
Congress. Political revolutions move
slowly under the peculiar checks of the
Federal Constitution. and the process
of transferring the Government from
one party organization to another is
matter involving months of delay. The
most radical upheayal would only suf-
fee to bring a Democratic House thir-
teen months after the election. while
the limit of possibility in the Senate
makes change of control there impos-
sible before March, 1912.
But toe American people will not
wait this long for Democracy to prove
its fitness for power. Before it can
possibly control both houses it viii be
on trial AS soon as the House is or
ganized with a Democratic Speaker
the hour for action will have arrived.
and BY the time the first session of the
Sixty-second Congress has adjourned
the country viii have made up its
mind exactly what measure of conf
dence Democracy is entitled to; and Ii
will have formed It's opinion mainly
upon the character of the men in the
lead in the lower house The use they
make of their power. the extent to
which they make necessary legislation
possible by cooperation with the Sen
ate and the Executive, above all tie
shape they give TO the measures which
come from their nands-theSe things
viii guide the country's future choice.
If the Senate proves reactionary the
House will be shaping bills which It
knows viii never become Law. and the
temptation to pander to a cheap popu-
larity VIII be strong But if il fall be
fore them the country viii know and
mark the fact.
Now il will be easy &c be elected to
Congress On the Democratic ticket this
fall. and short-sighted politicians VIII
therefore crowd each other for the
nom limitations. Party leaders should see
to il that only the best and nrainiest
men are placed on gnard-that q facfls
success be not permitted 10 tArow away
the opportunity OF the party. Demo
cratic Congressmer must remem5 Ger the
difference between criticism in opposi-