Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-01

in restriction of trusts and thus added
materially To his laurcls as a public
servant.
Very recently a copy of a paper-covered
book, called the New Freedom, was
mailed extensively to people in Washing
ton 1t was Il book of Gov. wilson's
speeches. compiled and edited and re-
written. Many passages had been made
over By the incoming President. Gonse
quently the book was scanned earnestly
by those who are anxious to gather ideas
about how he proposes to deal with great
public questions. The book proved enter
tanning, but in its yield of specific infor-
nation was disappointment
During February. GOV. Wilson has been
more chary than ever of expressing his
views and the Information about his
plans and alike of his doinss has become
more and more meager It will be no
ticed that tie newspaper stories from
Trenton have been growing shorter and
shorter, which is not because of any
slackenng of public interest in what
may be happening with the President
e,ect Meanwhile there are many earnest
inquiries from business men and others
out in the country at large. They want
to find ont if Washington knows mucn
about what will occur after Mr. Wilson
becomes President They want to know
what is the attitude of the Democratic
Congress. but it is little use To ask that
question for the attitude of the Demo-
cratic Congress in many ways will depend
upon the attitude of the Democratic
President There probably never was 4
time when a Congress was reader to do
the bidding of President than the Dem
ocrats now are with reference to their
party chief.
Tribute must be paid to the President
elect for the manner in which he has
| kept his own counsel There never was
a President-elect, who succeeded SO com
prehensively. Democrats in Senate and
| House would have gladly used his name
! as justification for their attitude on di-
| Vers pending measures but have almost
| universally abstained from doing so be-
cause they did not know Just how the
| President-elect stood.
! During debate on the immigration bill
! in the House the other day. those who
! would override the Presidents veto in
| sisted that Gov. Wilson was with them.
| Win
| laughter. There We're demands for the
| specific language Gov. Wilson had used.
| When it had been read the conclusion
was clear that Gov. Wilson had written
| only in general terms.
! The fact that he has confined himself to
generalities, should be much to Mr. Will
sons advantage as President. Those
/ ready debaters, always keen to draw a
! mans record on him and illuminate with
| charges of Inconsistency will find their
! occupation largely gone as far as the
/ Democratic Executive is concerned He
| has made many statements about tariff
| revision, some about competition and
| combination, and fewer about currency
| law revision. But none of these state
| ments can be translated into narrow
1 declarations. And consequently when as
J President, Mr. Wilson begins to talk all
I these matters over with his Democratic
| advisers he will be free to agree upon de-
tails as these appear to him wisest
| Congress is voting him whatever money
| may be desired for comfort and conven-
| fence in the White House. This. as a
| matter of fact, is done for all Presidents.
| although sometimes under protest II
| was minated to the appropriations COM
mittees that a larger salary for the sec
, rotary to the President would be desirable
and Congress promptly voted it, although
| the increase was only a restoration to the
/ former salary. Congress at its last ses-
sion reduced the secretary's salary to
5000, which is in reality not enough.
Then ii was intimated to Congress that
, an appropriation of $1,000 to raise the roof
of the White House on one side sufficient
ly to permit of the construction of some
apartments in what is now the attic
would be acceptable to the new occupant
That amount was voted without any
question. The new President will have a
large family and the number of bed
chambers, as now arranged. will be in
adequate, The changes will be made
during the summer when the President
and his family are away for a vacation.