The Washington herald., 1913-12-01
MAJORITY FACES
MANY PITFALLS
Party Leaders Are Alive to
Politics of Session Be-
ginning Today.
ELECTION NEXT YEAR
Loss of House Would Be Severe Blow
to Demoerats-People to Pass
on Tariff and Currency.

Y
Democratic leaders are In a serious
frame of mind over the work Of the
regular session of the Sixty-third Con-
gress which will be called to order at
noon.
They are about to enter upon ses-
sion in which party policies on many
| important questions will be fully de-
veloped for scrutiny by the people at
! the polls in the Congressional elections
Of 1914
It would be serious blow to the pur-
poses of President Wilson to lose con-
| troll Of the lower branch of Congress
midway in his administration. and the
thought will be kept before radical DEM
ocrats who are disposed to run amuck
at all times.
| The Democratic party already has re-
vised the tariff, and 1t is now overhaul
| ing the banking and currency laws In
| the near future II will disclose its in
tentions relative TO the corporations, con-
servation, and other questions that are
REGARDED as Of importance economically
as well as politically.
| The leaders realize that II the party Is
to retain the ground that 1t gained in the
elections Of 1872 that II must proceed with
caution in the consideration OF the rather
ambitious legislative program that Is
rapidly forming. In next years elections
the administration will be judged by the
new tariff and banking laws, and such
other legislation as may be enacted At
the forthcoming session
Session to BE Enlivened.
The Republican and Progressive leaders
are making ready for a lively session. As
the minority, they are the critics Of the
administration and the majority IN Con-
gress, and they find they have an abun-
dance of ammunition. They viii bom-
bard the new tariff from the moment the
savels signalize the beginning of the new
session, and will point with glee to the
| fact that food prices continue upward
despite downward revision. Up to date
Republicans as a rule have in public
maintained dignified silence concerning
the administrations Mexican policy. They
are bound to give expression sooner or
later to their privately expressed dis
satisfaction with this governments attl-
tude toward Mexico.
| Conservation was the cause OF much
trouble to the Taft administration. 1t
now presents itself for consideration by
Democratic Congress and a Democratic
President. Complaint has come from the
South and other sections that the pro-
posal made by Clifford Pinchot and his
| followers that water power sites in nav
igable streams shall be taxed has halted
progress in many States. In formulating
a conservation policy. especially in the
matter of water power, the administra-
ton will have TO support Mr.. Pinchot
or oppose him. II II goes counter to the
wishes OF Mr.. Pinchot, the same forces
| interested in the question that fought
President Taft will be arrayed against
President Wilson.
| 1t is understood that the estimate OF
appropriations required to keep the
wheels of government in motion in the
| fiscal year that will be begun July l.
1914. represent a total considerably in
excess OF a billion dollars. Here Is
| another cause for worry on the part of
\ the Democratic leaders. The estimates
were prepared by Democratic department
heads and scrutinized by a Democratic
President. They call for just about as
much as the estimates submitted to
Congress a year ago by Republican de-
partment heads and the Republican
President.
| In preparing the estimates the Demo
cratic officials slashed right and left, but
| when they totaled their figures they
found that it would take more than a
billion dollars for government needs IN
the new fiscal year. In the last Congress,
when the Democrats were in control OF
the House only. they economical to some
extent by allowing an appropriation for
one battleship instead of two. Now
comes the Democratic Secretary Of the
Navy with a building program that in
cludes two battleships. Democratic lead
ers are prepared to admit now that the
appropriations of the forthcoming session
will be considerably in excess of bill
lion dollars.
Recently there has been formed in
| Washington what is known as the
| Democratic Progressive Council" 1t is
composed almost exclusively OF officials
| OF the Wilson administration, among
them Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary to
the President This council intends to
| establish branches in the various States.
| The object of the organization Is to
| further Democratic progressive princi-
pies" The men identified with the coun-
! ell believe the Progressive party is in
| the process of disintegrating and that
| many OF its members may be induced
to join the Democratic party IL convinced
! that the party is really progressive.
Some leaders look upon the council as
/ a Wilson organization, pure and simple
Among the members of the council are
Franklin d. Roosevelt of New York,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy; Joseph
E Davies. OF Wisconsin, Commissioner
! of Corporations; Joseph w. Folk, of
Missouri, solicitor of the State Depart
ment; Josephus Daniels, Of North Caro-
lima, Secretary OF the Navy. and Byron
S. Newton, of New York. Assistant Sec
| retary of the Treasury.