Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-20
SIGNS OF SUCCESS
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS OF ALL
PARTIES HAVE CONFIDENCE
IN Mr. WILSON,.
COUNTRY WATCHES HIS PARTY
States Rights May Be Ignored in
LeeisIating Along Certain Lines of
Humane Standardization and
Bryan Now Agreed
By GEORGE CLINTON.

Humane EndeNor-President and
Bryan Now Agreed.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-When congress opens
in extra session April I the country
win begin its watchfulness Of the
work of the Democratic party. which
today is in control Of the two chief
branches Of the government, the
executive and the legislative. AS
Democrat has put 1t, The party is on
trial with a huge jury sitting in judg-
ment'
conscientious attempt has been
made to get the opinions of Demo-
Gratis, Progressives and Republicans
holding official positions in Washing
ton. All of them say, apparently with
out mental reservation, that Wood
row Wilson gives promises of being
a successful president. His New Jer-
sey record is quoted in his favor.
Party leaders say that although he
did not receive a majority of the
votes of the people, he stands well
with them and that there is evidence
that they will not be quick to con-
denim. Leaders Of the Democracy
here say mistakes are bound to be
made, but that they will be Of the
minor kind and the sum of accom-
plishment OF their party viii be great.
They are hopeful in success.
May Ignore States Rights.
No one here attempts to forecast
Just what President Wilson intends
to do, but he has made some marks in
New Jersey which his party members
and others with them say prove that
he intends to follow the road to prog
ress. One man has said that Mr. Will
son is "non-conformist," and he
was not speaking in a church sense.
The belief Of many men is that Mr..
Wilson is not going to depend much
upon precedent when outlining the
intended acts of his administration.
This word concerning the probable
disregard of precedent seemingly ig-
nores the precedent of states rights
or at least the precedent Of the doc
trine of states rights.
The new administration can accom-
plish good deal along lines Of fed
eral endeavor without crossing the
states rights dead line, but there are
certain lines Of humane endeavor
which the people apparently wish to
have followed and which lead straight
into the territory upon which the
Democratic sign of no trespass has
been placed. Perhaps Mr.. Wilson will
Ignore states rights so far as he can,
or so far as the Democrats Of con-
gross will allow.
Hope for Child Labor Bill.
The cabinet which Mr. Wilson has
appointed is recognized mainly as a
body of progressives. Mr.. Bryan will
dominate in way in its counsels, al
though 1t is not expected that he will
attempt domination In any way be-
yond a free expression Of his views.
Mr.. Bryan is federal conservation
ist and at heart he is opposed to
child labor 1t is understood that he
does not hold with Mr. Wilson that
the day will come quickly when the
states, acting independently, will
pass uniform laws regulating the evil
of child labor This may mean that
before Mr.. Wilson leaves Office the
federal government will attempt legis-
lation along the lines of the Bever-
idge bill, introduced into the senate
four or five years ago.
Franklin K. Lane, the secretary of
the interior, Is conservationist, and
although not as advanced a one as
some of the supporters of a federal
policy seem to wish, it is believed in
Washington that he will safeguard
the national domain and that his
views are those and will be those of
his chief.
No leader Of any party in Washing
ton apparently thinks there is to be
friction between Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Bryan. The belief of the Democrats
is that these men have fought out all
the subjects of difference between
them and have come to a working
agreement. In the last four years
Mr. Wilson, as members of congress
view it, has "outprogressed'' Mr. Bry-
an. There has been nothing therefore
to show any weakling traits in the
new president
Progressives to Aid Wilson
Democratic leaders of the pro-
gressive branch of the party have
told President Wilson that the sup
port Of Progressives and progress
siye Republicans can be depended up
on to put through such advanced leg
islation as he shall recommend, and
that in case there is any Democratic
detection, the support of the Progress
siEes and the progressive Republicans
will be more than stuff cient to Offset
it
1t has been known in Washington
for some time that the leaders of pro-
gressiveism in the two minority par
ties had agreed that it was not only
good policy, but the duty of their fol-
lowings to uphold Mr.. Wilson in every
line of endeavor in keeping with the
spirit of progress in the Republican
party as it developed in the last few
years, whether under the leadership of
Roosevelt, or of La Toilette, Cummins,
Bristow, Borah and others who still
remain, nominally at least, Republic.
ans. Friends of Mr.. Wilson say that
he can depend upon this support for
many of his policies, but that he
hopes it win not be necessary 10 draw
upon 1t to make good a Democratic
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