Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-02
De agogs Improve
Each Shining Hour
Critics Berate the
Bryan Power
Meditative MediatOrS Measure
MexicO's Mesquii MeandererS

the fore in Senate and House, with
the war discussion. Effects to arouse
attention by hapdoodle speeches have
not been lacking on that side of the
political fence. AS of old, the speeches
are being sent out to constituents by
hundreds of thousands. 1t is sup
posed that constituents will read and
be thrilled. But now and then bubbles
| have been punctured.
On every hand in Washington, ex-
cept with some loyal Democrats, Bry-
an comes in for berating over the
manner in which he conducts the State
Department. He is undoubtedly arro-
CANT in Office, which augments the
feeling of aversion to him in Washing
ton. He allows very little information
to come out of the Department and
his manner toward most, visitors there
is far from gracious or courteous. The
f1attery of admirers, who have sought
him out with great enthusiasm, has
turned the secretary's head. While
he is probably doing better than his
critics give him credit for doing, there
is much room for improvement In the
conduct of the State Department.
But as the Mexican war progresses
1t is likely that Bryan will have less
and less to do with it. The cabinet
work will fall more upon the seereta-
ries of war and navy. The President,
however, appears to have been con-
sulting much with Bryan, although 1t
is understood Bryans advice does not
go as far with the President as do
the words of other cabinet members.
Senator Root trimmed Bryan to
finish in speech. No one was better
equipped to perform the trimming
than he, for as former Secretary of
State he was closely in touch with the
facts.
The eyes of army chiefs are all
away toward the Texas border If
Mexico City is to be taken, whether by
march from the north or by the rail
road up from the sea, it must be by
a considerable army. Every day Wash
ington is hearing something from the
states, that border on Mexico. Texas
towns and counties have been tele-
.4graphing anew their requests Cor larg-
er reinforcements and these requests
: have steadily been turned over to Gen.
Bliss, in command in Texas. Senator
Sheppard of Texas, who recently Of
.fered his services as soldier to the
!, President in case he should be need
ed, has been taking these requests to
the War Department, especially re-
quests from south Texas and the De-
partment has complied with them in
some part.
Senator Fall of New Mexico, who
has been the most aggressive of all the
border senators for some vigorous ac-
ton on the part Of the administration,
. Is getting kilograms and letters by
the bushel from his constituents. There
are many residents of New Mexico
and Arizona, who like people along
the Texas border, find that hostilities
!, in Mexico, demoralize business and,
! who, consequently, are suffering finan-
= ciat loss. If a large army must be
. mustered for operations in Mexico it
will presumably be brought together
in Texas or some point adjacent
thereto.
Not until it becomes very plain what
the attitude of Carranza and Villa will
be, can the magnitude of army opera
tions be defined Many believe it
might as well be taken for granted
q from the start that Carranza and mis-
constitutionalists win resist the United
States troops. Such men would have
. the United States begin at once rails
ing q large volunteer army, have it
. rendezvous in Texas and make ready
z for the long and hot marching and
fighting down through the hostile
country to the city of Mexico. Presi-
9 dent Wilson, however, is very loath to
adopt that view. He clings to the
idea that ii may be unnecessary to use
any large army in Mexico.
Reports of operations by Villa close
up to Juarez have caused some dis
quiet in Washington. He has a large
armed force at his command and, il
he and Carranza should decide to Join
in the war against the United States
Knight cause commotion by q dash
across the border. The administration
doubts very much whether he would
hazard such an expedition, which ul-
timately Of course, would be most
dangerous for Villa. Nevertheless the
Presidents advisers are urging him to
take extra precautions against hostile
operations from the Constitutionalists
in Northern Mexico.
While developments in Mexico are
more important to Washington and
the country for the moment, the align
ment Of political parties respecting the
conflict. whatever it proves to be, is
a background topic much in mind here
The President, to be sure, is to have
the support of everyone in Congress,
but SO many strong invectiyes have
already been hurled it seems plain Re-
publicans prefer TO take him severely
to task for his management and to
attribute TO this a goodly portion of
blame for things that now are. Much
that has been said on the Republican
side of Senate and House will speedily
be forgotten. The permanent party
attitude will be judged by what the
Republicans in Congress do little lat
err. 1t is assumed that the embargo
against shipping arms into Mexico
across the border will be enforced
speedily and effectively so that Repub-
1ican animadversions on that point
will be silenced
In the Senate, at least. the opposi-
ton was ADLER in the presentation Of
its case More speeches and argu-
tents of commanding power were made
on that side Of the chamber The old
err and more experienced senators of
Foreign Relations are among the Re
publicans. There lis no Democratic SEN
ator, for instance, to cope for a min
ute with Senator Lodge or Senator