The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

he, therefore, insisted upon action. The
House leaders yielded to his will and
The administration cur, ency bin is now
certain TO be passed by that body, the
Democratic House caucus having ap.
proved it by an overwhelming majority
In the progress of the currency bill
through the House Committee, the Presi-
dent encountered the first serious evil
dences of insurgency within his own
party. Several Democrats. under the
leadership of Robert L. Henry, of Texas.
broke away and insisted upon incorpOra-
ton in the bill of many wild ideas, in
cluding corn-tgssel currency. President
Wilson again showed tact in handling
these insurgents. He appeased them
partly by promising TO give the subject
of farm credits a prominent place on
the administration program of legisla
tion at the next session. Working
through the regular House leaders, the
President gradually succeeded in break
ing the back of what at one time looked
like dangerous movement within his,
own party, and when the caucus finally
had acted. the insurgents were found in
line. consOling themselves with an unim-
portant amendment which the leaders
had conceded for the purpose of saving
the faces of the belligerents back in
their home districts.
The Presidents fight for currency re-
form at this session. therefore, hinges
now on the Senate. Here is coming his
most severe test of strength. The Senate
is tired and disguised after dragging
through a Washington summer Of tariff
debate. Everybody is anxious to get
away. Furthermore, the Senate Com
mittee hasn't had the time TO give to
the consideration of banking and cur
rency legislation. and many members lind
themselves almost hopelessly ignorant Oh
the subject.
Yet the President is insistent. and is
prepared TO take extreme measures to
force, the legislation through the Senate
at this session. He has in fact already
gained a substantial point The Senate
caucus Of Democrats is on record with
a resolution expressing the sense of the
party that there should be currency leg
islation at this time. This resolution will
he burr under the coat tails of those
Democrats who are urging postpone
ment. Already they are seeking To dis
count the caucus resolution by contendinS
that the meeting was poorly attended and
that the action cannot be binding on
those who were absent
Difference In Committee.
There is a wide divergence of views
among members of the committee. Some
want one reform: others another, and
almost every member of the committee
seems to have some hobby, which Is
not included in the present administra-
ton bill. Senators Hitchcock of Nebras-
ka and OGorman OF New York among
the Democrats, have insisted that the
Senate should-Rot be hurried in the pas
sage of his important legislation.
"a. hN- Presidents
friends is that the Senate may come to
the conclusion that there is no likelihood
OF any adjournment before December,
and in that event decide to talk the cur
Tency question over into the regular ses-
sion of Congress. II this is ATTEMPTED,
they will ind, however, that the Presi-
dent will be disposed to fix the responsi-
bilty in a personal way and to take the
public into his confidence. Mr.. Wilson
is thoroughly convinced from reports
that he has received from all parts of
the country that the country is demand
ing currency legislation Immediately
after the passage of the tariff bill, and
in accordance with this conviction he is
ready to stay right through until De-
Cember If necessary, TO accomplish his
purpose.
Many of the Presidents advisors have
tried to convince him that it is a mistake
IOIllCdllN lOT lilil u ilSiSl Ol NNiAShSS
legislation at the special session. They
have told him that if he would permit
Congress to adjourn after the passage
of the tariff BILL the result would go be-
fore the country as a great victory.
They have pointed out that il the
President failed in his efforts to bring
about currency legislation, 1t would
dim the effect of the tariff triumph
Instead of pointing to the special ses-
sion as a great victory for President
Wilson, the country would be inclined
to hold that the President had OBJ
tained only half loaf from the legis-
lators.
To these arguments the President,
however. has turned a deaf ear, and
has insisted that the movement should
go on.
Next to the tariff and currency. the
Mexican situation has engaged the at
tention OF folks in Washington as a
measure Of woodrow Wilson's capacity
as an executive. While opinions differ
as to the details OF his policy, there
is general agreement on one big fact.
That is that the President has shown
himself TO be safe and conservative in
the handling OF a very ticklish situa-
tiOn. His conduct in the Mexican crisis
has led to the decision in Washington
that his administration may be counted
upon to move slowly and conservative
ly toward all the big problems in the
foreign relations of the United States.