The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-18
wnuN CONGRESS CALLS rr 4 Jon.

dent intimated to the newspaper men
NJ their meeting Monday that he OK
pected Congress &c adjourn about the
middle OF Juno. All OF which means
that on or about June Is. the repre-
sentatives Of the people will hurry
back home and begin mending their
fences.
In making this siatement--we might
almost say. In letting out this secret
the President expressed the belief that
by the time ii adjourned. Congress would
have completed the task il had fixed
for itself, and would have passed the
antitrust bills. And this means that
about the date set, "Woodrow wilson
Will be written across five very com
tcchensive ana important nev laws
il is understood that the President
wishes Congress TO adjourn aarlier than
usual for three reasons, namely % that
the people may have opportunitv OF
passing judgment on the finished work
of tho Congress. C2l that the members
may have relief before their campaigns
for reelection md t3) that the coun-
try may have rest from new legisla-
ton.
As for the frs. named two reasons,
tho Democrats need fear nothing Those
members who have done their duty
can rest assured that when the pay
checks for The next Congress BEGIN
20 circulate. they viii snll be priv
legged to sign vouchers with the re-
cord Ii has achieved and with unbound
ed public confidence In tho wonderful
man who heads thc party. the Demo-
Gratis in Congress have the best pros
pect In their history Of continuance in
power.
The wisdom or an early adjournment
In order that business may have abso-
lutte rest from that uneasiness begotten
Of expected or threatened Legislation Is
also above question. Many good men
have thought that the time for this
lct-up came when the Federal reserve
net was made law; all viii welcome n
season when there will be nc rumors
from Washington OF new bills TO be
introduced.
But we have been OF those who be-
licvc that while adjournment should
come after the antitrust bills have
been passed. Congress has not erred in
resolntely, pursuing to Its logical end
the srogram 1t laid out for itself. Ana
Of this we arc positive for two reasons.
FIRST, because business has long since
fully anticipated and met all the lct,is-
lation this Congress will enact, and
second, because the Democratic party
has been able by prompt and united ao-
lion 10 make an unprecedented record
and to retain fun public confidence
The complete adjustment Of Iegiti-
mate business to the new situation
was shown when the President wrote
his stirring message regarding the con
troll OF Industrial corporations. Long
before he spoke out, business WAS CON
WINGED that In his suggestions TO Con-
gross there would he nothing radical.
nothing dangerous, nothing that was
not needed. AS consequence. the OFF.
cial declaration Of the most progress
sive policy this country has ever pur-
sued in dealing with business was met.
not with panic or business upheavai,
hut with positive relief and genera,
boom" Surely with this remarkable
chapter in our Industrial history sim
fresh. there can be no danger in MAX
ing the promises OF the party the law
of the land.
II must be remembered, also. that
this Congress, with splendid leadership
has lost neither time nor rriqnds in
redceming It's pledges. Contrast its
action on the currency question with
that OF the Republicans. For ten wears
the G. O. p. promised complete re-
formation of our banking laws we
were assured Immediate relief during.
every campaign and were given by
every national convention the solemn
promise that the Republicans would
adjust the Chase national bank Law
to modern economic conditions The
net result OF ten years lodging was
the report OF the Monetary Commission
and the Aldrich plan, disowned by the
party that framed It, The Democrats.
on the other hand, promised the people
In the national platform of 1912 that
they would give The country new cur
rency law. Within thirteen months af-
ter @ Democratic Congress had heen
elected. the law was on the books
And during this time the discount
rate was not raised even fraction or
per cent. and no important banks
were closed. Within q week after tho
new system was authorized the grea1-
est financial institutions 81 the coun-
try rushed TO join the reserve nssoci-
alton Could the President and The
party have been SO distrustful OF the
nation as to hesitate, In the face Of
this Endorsement, TO redeem all their
party pledges?
The trust bills VIII be passed. Ad.
iouTnment can then be had. not In
shame or fear but vim the assurance
mat The country vii! remember and
reward This rs ne most constructive
Congress OF the generation
Where is my primary bill? asks Sen.
ator Gravatt. Where is my poll tax
bill? asks Senator Drewry. Where is
my initiative ana referendum bill? asks