The Washington herald., 1912-02-07
A Word to the Democrats.

The Democratic members of the
House of Representatives will assemble
in CAUCUS tonight to decide upon their
course of action in the matter of in
restigsting the so-called money trust
Without attempting to question their
ability to wisely formulate their poll
sies, and with no desire to trench upon
their prerogatives, some plain truths
may be uttered which have a direct
bearing upon the situation. The ques-
ton to be decided tonight is not, as
we understand it, whether an inquiry
shall be made into the existence and
operations of the alleged money trust
although it may be reasonably expected
that any kind of an investigation will
be futile-but whether the examination
shall be conducted by a special COM
mittee or through the regularly organ
lied agency of the Banking and Cur
rency Committee.
The proposition which looks toward
a special committee is radical and fan
tsstic. 1t would, if adopted, bring into
the Congressional drag-net practically
every banking, industrial, and railroad
corporation in the United States. It !
would fly the red flag of business dis
turbance and excite the protest of the
commercial world Not only this, but |
It includes among its advocates some
whose conduct seems inspired by a de-
sire to create fatal dissensions within
the Democratic party.
Be- this as it may, it is for the
BenIocrats in the House to decide
whether they shall follow the radical
or the, wise and prudent course If
they believe that they can strengthen
themselves with thinking people by at
tackirg substantial and legitimate busi-
ness, instead of devoting themselves to
constructive and remedial legislation,
they are welcome to that belief Ex-
perience has proven otherwise. The
one great obstacle in the path of Dem
ocratlc success to-day is the almost
opinion that if intrusted with !
power it will prove its incapacity and +
work injury to the country. The great
majority of the American people to-day :
are not radical There never was so
much money in savings banks as there \
S to-day. Every depositor is a con-
Every merchant, big and
title, is sensitive when commercial and
inancisl stability is disturbed. These =
ire the people with whom the Demo- .
ratio party must reckon on election Il
lay. The men who, like George Fred &
Williams, historically assert that every :,
iollar Of Carnegie's money "is steeped
n the blood of human workers" are :,
lot the men who elect Presidents. The q
ober, conservative sense finally pre-
ails when the ballots are placed within
he box.
The Democratic party has been out F
t power for fifteen years. A few :,
1onths ago it seemed certain of success
the approaching election. Conditions. F.
owever, have materially changed. The II
Democrats, if they are to win, must
emonstrate wisdom in legislation and "a
Nercise still greater wisdom in the Sc IN
,ction of nominee. Even then they
MI seriously handicap themselves if
icy ALLEVIATE the solid and substantial di
IaJority OF the American people. Illegal tt
ordinations, whether of money or N
ade, should, of course, be attacked and )
'ndemned. To allow the party to be Ri
0minated, however, by the element q, a.
hich now seeks control is to invite
1other of the successive defeats to FS
hieh the Democratic organization has ~,
: this time become sadly accustomed. Co