Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-10
MANY PROBLEMS TO SOLVE
Friction Among Democratic Party
Leaders Also Confronting.
WORRIES AT HOME AND ABROAD
Perplexing Situation in Mexico and
Central America-Differen in
Congress Over Legislation.

gathering to greet the incoming ad
! ministration. which is to assume con-
troll Of all branches of the government
three weeks from tomorrow. Indica-
| tiOns are plentiful that the new Presi-
dent will face troublesome conditions
from the outset. His friends, and they
are numerous and potential. say that
he is entirely competent to cope with
all the threatening elements. and that
he will quickly dissipate the clouds and
show himself able to handle TIE situa-
ticn.
An acute and dangerous phase of the
Mexican trouble: rumblings of revolu-
tion in Central American states; a
diplomatic problem of the first magni
tude in the British complaint on our
| Panama toll policy; friction among
House democrats over appropriations.
tariff and currency; bitter wrangling
in the Senate between the radical and
conservative wings of the democratic
party, and differences of opinion over
repeal of the Panama toll legislation
are a few of the elements Of unhappi-
ness awaiting President Wilson's ad
miniStration.
Outside of purely governmental affairs
and in domain beyond his control are
threatened labor strikes and unsettled
business. the latter incident upon tariff
agitation.
President Taft's Attitude.
President Taft is doing all in his power
to maintain the status quo for the brief
time intervening between the outgoing
and incoming administrations. He is de-
termined to leave no skeletons in the
White House closets to confront his sue
cessor IL he can help 1t.
To that end, President Taft will go to
and endurance to avoid shouldering a war
with Mexico upon Mr.. Wilson. In fact,
he has been doing that very thing for
the past two months and in the face of
very grievous provocation from the Mexi-
cans themselves and oblivious to taunts
from his fellow countrymen.
II crisis can be tided over until the
new administration takes hold. the new
government will find itself equipped not
Mexican problem. but with full power,
political. executive and esislative--power
not possessed by President Taft.
1T takes two to make quarrel" the
old adage says. and under the American
one to declare war: the Congress must
have the final say. President Wilson will
have control OF both branches of Con-
gress. of the appropriations committee to
his cabinet and Congress can do what
ever they like.
Friction Among Democrats.
There have been rumblings Of friction
among the democrats in Congress for
several weeks. heard by everybody, but
comment upon them is mininlized out OF
consideration for the incoming President.
Developments Of the past few days, how
ever. have brought the trouble to the
boiling-over point
The impassioned and almost bitter pro-
test of Chairman Fitzgerald Of the ap-
propriatiOns committee in the House last
Saturday made public record Of one fea-
ture of democratic disaffection. Chair
man Underwood replied to his colleague
In Saturday nights caucus. and this still
further called attention to unsatisfactory
party conditions.
Everybody knows there are two tariff
factions among the democrats. differing
as to degrees or reduction of tariff rates
In the several schedules and the friction
may be further intensified with the ar
rival of the untr.ed men among the new
ly elected democratic membership. While
the leaders expect to be able to fight out
their differences in caucus. and present a
solid front in the House. the situation is
serious enough to cause them many anX-
iOuS hours.
House democrats differ on currency. on
battleshp appropriations. on general ap-
propriations. on the makeup of the new
commit ttees as beween conservatives and
reactionaries. The grim situation is re-
lieved by a note OF humor IN the fact
that the two most vigorous opponents OF
the .two-battleship appropriations are
Gen. Sherwood of Ohio, who put through
one of the biggest increases Of the PEN
son rolls ever made. and Mr.. Burnett of
Alabama. who will have to pass the pub
lie buildings appropriation bill.
Bitter Feeling in Senate.
In the Senate the feeling between the
conservative and radical democrats is
very bitter, and a determined effort is on
foot to oust the conservatives from po-
sitions Of vantage on leading committees
and from their hold on the party man.
agement In the Senate. There is the
same cleavage in the Senate. too, on
tariff. currency and Panama tolls
On top of all their other troubles. the
democrats are deeply worried over pa
tronage. Hints and rumors from Trenton
as TO the disposition of the incoming
President to divide the spoils have been
far from reassuring. while at the same
time the pressure from home has been
constantly increasing.
II you meet democratic statesman
with furrowed brow, abstracted mien and
a far-away look In his eye. it's dollars to
doughnuts he is not worrying over grave
problems of craftsmanship. but Is think
ing about that latest bundle of letters
from his district or state asking patron
age.