New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-30
DEMOCRATS WH|MPER
, AS WILSON THUMBS
They Find They Must Follow
His Will in Tariff Revision
or Pay the Penalty.
-lIl URE MEANS NO PlUMS
,nlv Those Who Vote as Presi-
dent Wishes Will Have Any
Voice in Distributing
the Patronage.
rTrom Tho Tribune Bureau

rrrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. March 29.-Once more
.he swish of the big stick is heard IN
he land. From the White House the
1ictum has gone forth to Democratic
legislators that President Wilson and
,is cabinet will see to it that the tariff
IN is framed according TO the admin
.strations ideas of revision. and not
,ccordins 10 the ideas of Chairman
underwood and his colleagues on the
WAYS and Means Committee.
The measure, if not actually revised
Of the White House. will he trimmed
10 conform to the ideas of the Presi-
don't and his Cabinet. II will then he
presented TO the Democratic legisla-
tors in caucus. Those who accept il
will be considered members of the
marty. with a voice in the distribution
Of patronage. on those who reject II
pressure will he brought to bear, and #
tbev persist in refusing to bow 10 the
oarinistration's will they will he last
into outer darkness, where there %ill
rrobably he much wail.ng and gnash-
ing Of teeth.
There will be no material dispensing
Of patronage until the fate Of the ac-
ministration tariff revision bill has
been definitely determined.
Will Have to Pay Penalty.
The edict putting in-o effect at The
Capitol the methods applied by Gov
ernor Wilson at the New Jersey state
Mouse has not gone forth generally,
but certain Democratic Senators nave
been given TO understand that the pro
grammc will be carried out TO the let
TOR II they 90 not conform 10 il they
must pay the penalty, and, however
indifferent the recalcitrant Democratic
legislators profess 10 be toward the
patronage question. the punishment is
not regarded as light.
The political consequences will also
Il, serious as the refractory lawmak-
ers will be branded as reactionary AMI
hostile TO the official progressive poll
cies Of the administration. while with
ont patronage TO dispense they viii
find il practically impossible 10 squar
themselves with their local supporters.
Naturally there are mutterings OF
disapproval among the Democrats III
Congress. The reports from Trenton
that President Wilson would take the
lead in steering the Progressive Demo-
cratic measures through Congress. even
if he had TO o 10 the Capitol TO see
that the legislators behaved them
selves. were not taken very seriously.
Senators. especially. believed that few
DAYS in the White House would con-
vince Mr.. Wilson Of the wisdom of
keeping his hands off Congress.
The President has done nothing OF
the kind. His programme for tariff re-
vision. on the contrary. indicates that
he and not the Democratic leaders, will
frame the legislation TO which he be
Heves the party ha> been committed.
and the necessary steps will be taken
10 bring the rank and file into line.
Democrats Fear Strife.
The greatest fear among the Demo
Gratis is that President Wilson's scheme
for tariff revision will breed strife
through the humiliation of Mr.. Under
wood and the members of the ways
and Means Committee IT is possible
that Mr.. Underwood's and the Presl-
dents ideas Of tariff revision are so
nearly alike that there will be no con-
fict between them. but. even in that
event. the elimination Of Mr.. Under
wood and the taking over Of the tariff
task by the President and his Cabinet
will not breathe the spirit Of harmon
Gus acquiescence into the Democratic
majority in Congress.
Fear Of the big stick is too pro-
nOunced 10 permit individual Senators
and Representatives. who have con
iemplated fight for their pet in
dustries when the tariff bill came up,
TO take the White House edict lightly
Some Of them may decide il is better 10
bear the stamp of Wilson approval
Than TO risk political ostracism by hght-
ing for tho protection of home in
dustries The dilemma in which they
Ind themselves is uncomfortable. ana
some Of them, even if they bow TO the
will Of President Wilson. will do 1t
grudgingly.