The Washington herald., 1913-03-30

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4 States east of the Mississippi have
prospered under conditions which are
proposed to be denied to the Western
States to-day, No wonder that Sena-
/ tor Shafroth of Colorado dyed-in-
the-wool Demonstrates his voice
in protest because the arm of Federal
control has been extended over 1900.
600 acres of timber land and 100000
acres of coal deposits in his State.
This latter area, it might be mentioned
in passing, is equal to that of Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire,
and Rhode Island combined.
So when President Wilson has to
decide whether he favors the leasing
of these lands in order to enrich the
Federal Treasury or whether he IA
vors letting the new States of the
West enjoy for their own benefit the
advantages freely granted to the older
States many years ago, he will find
himself at the parting of the ways. II
he adopts tlIe first alternative, he will
gain strength with the Progressivcs
and invite the criticism of those DEM
ocrats who believe that Roosevelt's
idea of Federal control extends en-
tirely too far This is but another of tho
many problems which he has to face.
Factors of Complexity.
From a political point of view, this
determination OF the Progressives to
line up with the Democratic admins
tration, if it adopts their ideas, adds
to the complexity of the situation.
1t is difficult to believe that Col.
Roosevelt looks upon this new devel-
opment with complete equanimity. 1t
means the cutting away of the founda-
| ton upon which he is building the
steps by which he hopes eventually to
reach the Presidency. He must GER
tainly shiver when he hears that there
are Progressives who openly declare
that they do not care a rap for the
further existence of their party if the
Democratic administration enacts into
law the policies to which they are
committed As already stated, they
claim that they are interested only in
results.
The outlook is. therefore. that the
Congress which is about to assemble
will witness some curious alignments.
The time approaches nearer and nearer
when the old party designations will
be superseded. More and more the
terms Democrat and Republican"
have less of their old-time significance
There will, of course, always remain
distinction between those who be-
lieve in protection as principle and
those who do not. but even now there
are Democrats who are protectionists,
and Republicans who believe in low
tariff. After the tariff bill has been
enacted there are certain 10 be many
divisions over Legislation which may
be proposed, and President Wilson
will demonstrate his ability as a leader
if he can keep his party in anything
like state OF solidity.
The Illinois Senators.
Another incident OF the week just
closed which is worthy OF comment
was the election OF two United States
Senators in Illinois
The victory of Sherman and Lewis
had been the popular choice OF their
respective parties in the State primary
1t is a matter of some interest, how
ever. that the result was achieved By
completely ignoring the Progressive
members of the Legislature. Neither
OF the three parties had a clear ma
jority, and it was only by combina-
ton of the sixty Democrats and fifty
three Republicans that Sherman and
Lewis were chosen. Twice the propo-
sition was made and accepted that the
Republicans and ProgrecSives should
combine and elect Sherman and Funk,
the latter having been the Progressive
candidate for Governor, but both
times the arrangement was rcpudiated
before it could be carried into effect.
1t is rather surprising that the Pro-
gressives did not take advantage of the
opportunity to place a distinct and
recognizeds representative of their
party in the Senate. This outcome
would have been of great advantage
TO their organization. AS it is, they
gained nothing by the fact that they
held the balance OF power in the Leg
islaturc
The alignment of some of the Pro-
greSsive Representative in Congress
with the Democratic administration
and the failure OF the Progressive per-
sonnel in the Illinois Legislature to
figure as a factor in the Senatorship
contest, would seem to indicate that
the party is retroceding. On the other
hand, the effort to preserve its vitality
continues unabated.. In Maryland last
week a Progressive convention was
held, at which enthusiastic addresses
were made and message from Roose-