The Washington herald., 1914-07-26
Political Situation.

There is hot wave in politics. Everything is at
sizzling heat
Washington and New York record the highest
Temperatures There is no outlook for cooler atmos-
phere. On the contrary, indications point to con-
tinued heat, with frequent thunder squalls. When
they break, something or somebody will be hurt. One
storm has already been averted. The withdrawal of
the nomination of Thomas D. Jones' of Illinois, as
member of the Federal Reserve Board, has saved
the President and, in very large measure the Demo-
cratic party. The President may feel annoyed just
now, but the time will when he will have
sion to thank those Senators whose political wisdom
led them to oppose the Presidents wishes
The Republican Senators, although they would
have been compelled to go upon record in opposition
to Mr. Jones' would have been glad to have seen him
confirmed The moment the Democratic majority in
the Senate had acted favorsbly upon the nomination
the West and Northwest sections of the country
would have been deuged with attacks on Mr.. Jones'
record Now, however, all guns are spiked. An at
tack can be made upon the President for making the
nomination. but the Democratic party cannot be held
responsible for confirmation
As matter of fact it is doubtful whether Mr..
Jones could ever have been confirmed The President
must have realized this when he allowed, if he did
suggest the stepping down and of his nominee.
The humoI of the situation although they may not
think it humorous, lies with Senators Hollis, Pom
creme Blair Lee, and their colleagues, who so nobly
defended Jones in order to make themselves solid
with the President Senator Lee could not have done
otherwise. The administration helped him in his
Senatorial fight and he had to stand by it. None of
the Senators who went upon record in Jones behalf
come before the people in the approaching elections
and they naturally hope that two years hence the
nomination will have ceased to be political issue
Meanwhile, the Senators who opposed Jones on
the White House blacklist. Senators Reed and Hitch
cock have already been denounced in the Presidents
letter to Mr.. Jones' They need expect any favors
More than this, they are pilored as warnings to
those who would run counter to the wishes of the
administration. The fact is however, that the with
drawal of the nomination is the first blow to the
Presidents prestige and it also gives aid and COM
fort to the insurgents tell how far-reaching
the effect of the episode may be.
One feature of the situation augurs we'll for the
future 1t is still questionable whether the country
has wisely entered upon the experiment of placing
the control of many billions of dollars IN the hands
of few men appointed by the President and who,
as experience has already shown, is guided in his
selection by personal and political preference. By
appointing all Democrats the President has set a
precedent in favor of partisan board which will
unquestionably be followed by his successors If the
Senate, however, will exercise its constitutional right
to withhold its consent to appointments which are
in the interest of the entire country much of the
threatened danger is removed The Senate is to be,
after ALL the safeguard against the arbitrary exercise
of executive will.