Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
Democratic Party Has Had
Charge of Government for
Twelve Months.
REVIEW OF ITS WORK
MADE BY THE LEADERS
Problems Confronting the President
Today-Legislation Enacted by
Congress Since Last March.

The democratic administration was
year old today. Just twelvemonth ago
shortly after noon, Woodrow wilson
stood on the east front of the Capitol and
took the oath of office. ushering the de-
Inocracy into control of all branches of
the national government for the first time
In twenty years.
At the White House. in executive quar-
ters generally and in congressional circles
the day served TO recall the work of the
feeting year. Members of Congress real
I'D that except for short breathing
spell at the Christmas holidays they had
been in practically continuous session.
From the time the President broke
century-old precedent and stood before an
assembled Congress to urge the enactment
OF low tariff. close cooperation mas
reigned between the chief executive and
the leaders of the dominant party in Con-
yress. The enactment of a tariff law Oc-
tober g. 1918. making vital changes in the
duties on imports was followed by the
signing of a banking and currency act
December % 1918. These two laws and
the recent ratification of the arbitratlon
treaties are the things which the Presl-
dents friends were pointing to as the di-
rect result OF the lTltifHdte coHtdSl Solsto~
lished between the executive and legisla-
tive departments of the government.
Problems Confronting Wilson.
Much Of the Presidents time and
-nergy have been spent in wrestling
with a troublesome Mexican situation.
as yet unsolved, and the diplomatic
tangle with Japan growing out of the
passage by California of a rev anti
alien land law. Lately he has been de-
voting himself to rehabilitation OF
the foreign relations of the United
States: to drafting with Secretary
Bryan of new peace treaties, the set
Element Of the Panama canal tolls con-
troversy with Great Britain. diff1cultles
with Colombia growing out of the par
tition of Panama, and many other SUD-
Jects of foreign policy.
Five times the President has ap-
peared before Congress. delivering
Mexican affairs. the annual report on
the state of the Union" and trust
legislation The recommendations of
his annual message for the building OF
antitrust reform are still in the hands
of Congress. with assurances of the
leaders that they will be made law be-
fore the expected adjournment in June.
Interest in the Presidents sixth mes
sage was apparent when il became
known he would address Congress tomor-
row in advocacy of the repeal of the
clause exempting American coastwise
shipping from the payment of Panama
canal tolls. The chief executive for the
first time asks Congress-particularly his
own party-to reverse itself, but his ar
gument is that when Congress last pass
ed on the question international circum-
stances such as now surround the issue
did not then exist.
Reasons for Urging Repeal.
The President believes general dis
trust of the intentions of the United
States in constituting treaties for its own
selfish benefit has arisen, and because
Of the doubt existing on the interpreta-
.on of the -Pauncefote treaty he
--ses the repeal of the much-debated
lrovision.
The message tomorrow will be the
.sliortest of all 1t is said to be less than
20 words long All of Mr.. Wilson's
addresses have been brief as compared
With those of his predecessors.
Washington residents of many years, to
whom the ways and manners of a Presi-
lent have been a matter OF intimate op-
servation have watched President Wilson
with interest. He has broken many prece-
dents his ways have been quite informal.
but the most conspicuous characteristic
OF all is his Discrimination to making pub
Ic speeches. He has declined hundreds
the country. He has attended but one
public banquet-last nights ceremony OF
The National Geographic Society, when
col Goethals was presented with a gold
medal by Mr.. Wilson on behalf of the
society.
But Two Other Speeches.
His only other speeches were made to
the American Red Cross last December
and one to the Daughters Of the Ameri
can revolution. His trips out of Wash
ington have been few. While Congress
has been in session. the President has
made It q point to be at his desk con-
tinuously.
Mr.. Wilson appears with a uniformed
aid only at army or navy functions, and
the motor cycles which used to precede
the Presidents motor have been displa ced
bv an automobile with secret service men
which follows inconspicuously behind. 50
that the President drives about Wash
ington attracting but little attention.