The Washington herald., 1913-01-26

ISustohdIy W diiOW any fresiQcnt 10 D'
his own judge of what constitutes al
extraordinary occasion, but he argued
that even most liberal construction
of the words would not justify Gov
Wilson in calling an extra session II
March to revise the tariff. From hi:
point of view, the fact that the Taft
and Roosevelt vote exceeded the vii.
SON vote by 100000, evidenced popu-
lar desire to continue the principles OF
protection as against the policy of tariff
for revenue only.
| All of which is doubtless very true
At the same time Mr.. Towner, overlooks
one important point The people know
that the result of the election will be
revision of the tariff. 1t is as certain
to come as the Inauguration of Mr..
Wilson. This being the case, they
want uncertainty removed as quickly
as possible. The situation is bad
enough as it is. Under our. archaic
system, relic Of the days of stage
coach transportation, four months must
intervene between an election and the
actual incoming of new adm;nistra-
ton. When the tariff is to be revised
this is serious matter. The urcer-
tainty does not end, however, With the
4th of March. There must follow
months of debate in the House, and
especially the Senate, so that in this
as in previous instances of the same
character the tariff bill cannot become
law until August or September,
nearly year afte- it has been known
that changes are ce.tain to be made
There can be no sympathy with Rep
rcscntative Towner's suggestion that
the period of doubt should be indefi-
nitely delayed. 1t would be wiser, in
deed, if we could so alter our ma
chinery of government that a new Con-
gress could be installed within ten days
after an election. As this is not pos
sible, Mr. Wilson is conferring a posi-
tive benefit upon business interests in
convening Congress as speedily as pos
sible Even after the tariff bill has
passed there will be a long period of
adjustment TO new conditions, so that.
even If the new schedules should not
be injurious. we must pass through
year of doubt
If Mr.. Towner's advice should be
followed the era of uncertainty would
be doubly prolonged
The movement. given publicity last
week by the Gaelic American to compel
Mr.. Wilson to give representation in
his Cabinet to an Irish American, and
especially an Irish Catholic, is another
one OF the many embarrassments to
which the new President finds himself
subjected
1t is asserted that this effort is both
widespread and determined Many
names are mentioned as acceptable to
the element which asks a Cabinet office.
THE Jews have deservedly got rec
ognition in recent Cabinets" comments
the organ of the Irish race, and dis
tinguished Germans have more than
once been so honored. but an Irishman,
never. Surely it is time to begin to
give the Irish the recognition to which
their abilities, their party services, and
the strength of their vote entitle them"
Other Irish periodicals are printing
editorials in the same strain, while con-
siderable inside history as to the in
fuences for and against Gov Wilson, |
both before and after his nomination, |
is finding its way into the newspapers |
1t is stated, for instance, in the New |
York Sun, that Senator O'Gorman sent |
out 1900 letters over his own sigma |
ture to prominent Irish Catholics in |
the country, urging that they support
Gov Wilson, and that the Irish Catho-
lie bureau of the Democratic campaign |
committee distributed hundreds of thou
sands of pamphlets and circulars, max
ing the same appeal These are only a |
few of the statements which are being |
made
The natural comment upon this sit
uation is an expression Of regret that
political exigencies should apparently |
make sectional appeals necessary. There
ought to be no such thing in this coun-
try as the German vote or the Irish |
vote, the Hebrew, Catholic, or Protest
ant vote Great national questions
should be decided without recourse to |
racial or religious prejudices. Gov.
Wilson will take a long step forward
if in the selection of his Cabinet he
can show that he has not been infu-
enced by sectional considerations. In
this particular case an issue seems to
have been made, and it may cause Mr..
Wilson some annoyance. 1t is one
which will require delicate handling,
and the manner in which it is disposed
Of will be observed with interest. |
The situation in regard TO Demo
cratic control of the United States
Senate reu,ains unsettled only as to