Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-04-23

its present form. there is little doubt. 1t
is equally clear that the senate will so
nearly coincide with the house as to
eliminate virtually the period of confer
ence which ordinarily, at a revision SEES
siOns, endures the best part of a month.
An important factor will be the debate.
Many an old time argument must prob
ably be spoken again, in attack and de
Tense, making up the record in the same
old political way in the hope las far as
republicans are cOncerned) that things
will really go to the bOwwows under the
new tariff. Thereupon it will all be in
print how they were right. And should
things 90 to the bOwwOws. following the
tariff enactment, it will probably be that
democrats will 90 out of power expedit-
iously and be a very long time returning.
So decidedly is the president having
his way, hat it became a question wheth-
err the tariff battle in the ~Senate( long
looked upon as an affair of heavy guns in
action will not lose Importance. The
country manifests little interest in af-
fairs at Washington, where the elements
of uncertainty and contention are rap
idly disappearing.
1t should be as easy to get a currency
reform bill through this session of con
gress, as it has been to whip a tariff bill
into legislative prospects so wonderful.
Around the capitol it is said that cur
rency reform is a mighty dangerous sub
ject to deal with. congressman are
afraid. The country knows nothing
about it. Bankers will not assent. Pres
ident Wilson knows there will come a re-
action against his tariff legislation ESQ
these observers argue.) He would like
to have currency legislation as a buffer
to criticism of tariff. But he can't get
it. He really can't get it.
And the situation is certainly work
ing around to an aspect where the Pres
ident and his leaders in Congress will
take another chance right in the nick
Of time. The democracy had numerous
lucklcss years. But fortune appears to
have changed. President Wilson under
a marvellous star, seems intent on the
currency problem. Men well NAV ask
whether he is not strong enough to write
the measure upon the books. If he wins
with tariff. as there is every likelihood
that he will. his prestige will be greater
than ever. Whatever i'll effects the leg
i~slatiOn may bring will come later on.
Will he? The wheels are already turn.
ing. President Wilson has been very
actively at work to the end of currency
reform right OH the heels Of tariff re,
form. just now he is a cOnquering hero
to the country. He is considerably more
popular than Presidents usually are in
the first year Of their terms. He and his
attending leaders in Congress d~aringly
take a nance on bold revision. For a
moment. certainly, there appears to be
applause throughout the land. The PEG
pie are willing to take a chance.
Even republicans say the president is
sound on financial points. They think
he will never sanction a wild financial
measure. 1t is another thing to get the
house to enact it, to persuade a loqua-
clous senate to approve. But one need
not be so sure that the President is I'M
able TO do this. He can if the country
continues to give him his confidence and
probably the country will. Members Of
Congress want to stand i'm with that kind
of a president.
1t seems at Washington as though the
President has come into a new popular
ity within the last month. The country
has gotten a new view of him. 1t was
thought during the preliminary cam
paign that Mr.. Wilson had caught the
fancy Of the voters. 1t was thought so
during the presidential campaign, but it
is very doubtful whether he did. Slurs
about the schOOlmaster stuck. Most
everybody stores up ideas about the in
structor Of his youth that do not com
port with the great office of president.
But the idea of the schOOlmaster is pass
ing popularity with reference to Presi-
dent Wilson. Big politicians are taking
their hats off to him. They are thinking
of him no longer as the schoolmaster.
Others are likewise changing their Opin-
ions.