The Madison journal., 1914-02-14
undue influence on individual commit.

undue influence on individual commit
tee members.
BUSINESS Men Welcome.
1t is plain from what has been said
In the vicinity of the White House
that President Wilson desires that rep-
resentatives Of the commercial inter.
ests OF the country shall come to
Washington and present to the com.
mitteemen their side of any case In
VOWED In the projected legislation.
The wolves have been scared away.
but the watch dogs will be welcome
When Mr.. Taft was president, a man
who had once been a member Of con.
gress stood hour after hour at the door
OF the room Of the committee on ways
and means which was discussing
the tariff schedules and buttonholed
every member of congress who went
in or out. holding him until there had
been time to plead for the retention
OF high duty on a certain line of i'm
ported goods. No representative Of
big business, whether he be former
this year at committee room doors to
ply his insidious calling.
Must Find New Issues.
The present intention of the Dem
ocratic members in congress is to
bring about an adjournment In
June. Within a month or six weeks
thereafter the congressional cam
paigns are fought out as a rule
on the issues which entered into the
last preceding presidential campaign.
What are the Republican and the Pro-
gressive candidates going to talk
about In order to arouse the enthusi-
asm Of the voters and to secure their
support?
This question is before the Repub-
lican and Progressive congressional
committees for an answer today. They
must find the answer. or better. the
answers. within the next few months
Two years ago the Republicans
pledged themselves to antitrust and /
banking and currency legislation. |
Ihey favored the establishment OF a |
parcel post. a liberal policy toward |
Alaska, plans for flood protection and |
many other things. The Democrats
have dealt with all these matters and.
apparently to their own satisfaction.
have settled them.
1t is perfectly true that the high
hope of the Progressives is simply
that the party can increase its mem
oership in the next house OF repre-
sentatives. The leaders of the new
party have little or no thought. so far
as one can determine. that they can
secure a sweeping victory in the elec.
lions of next November They do be-
ieve. however. that they can gain ad.
iltional members In is or 20 districts
now represented by either Democrats
'r Republicans
Must Find New Issues.
The Republicans, as has been init.
mated. must look for new issues in
he next congressional campaign. be-
'ause the Democrats have taken a
'ood many of their issues away from +.
hem Now. Of course, IL the legisla.
ion passed by the Democrats. and
which they have intended as set =
lement Of these issues, shall fail O
is purpose. the Republicans can 20 to :
he country on the basis OF their CD
onents' failure. The laws, however.
Which the Democrats propose to enact
r which they already have enacted
o not go into effect in some instances
Or considerable time to come In
be cases Of the laws which have gone q
lto effect. it will take a long time to I
rove whether they are efficacious or il
OF. So 1t would seem that the Demo o
ratio party is fairly safe until some I
me after the next congressional elec- d
on. Z
The Progressives seemingly are a
tile better of than the Republicans IL
the matter of issues. They say Il
lat tn Democratic legislation shows C
origin in the Progressive party, and Il
lat Mr.. Wilson and the congress dom. b
ated by his party have been steal Il
g the Progressive material. The 81
rogressives, however. will not sim. 2,
y cry Thief" for they have a dis CT
net issue in their plank which called W
r an interstate trade commission, ia
ith plenty Of power to regulate the "
usts Of the country el
The Democrats have prepared a bill m
an interstate trade com. in
ission. but 1t is given nothing like
9 authority which the Progressives hi
Ink should be given to such a body. iz
Prosresslves and Child Labor. st
The Progressive party has made a to
cd deal Of its proposal to do away of
tn child labor by means Of a fedora We
t. 1t is urged by the Progressives al
at the continuance Of present child tn
Dor conditions ultimately will under m
ne American manhood and woman. ca
cd and bring about the decay of the CT
tion. Republicans never have been pl
en- about stopping child labor. and
Democrats virtually declined to
7e 1t consideration. This subject
II be among the foremost things to IL
ich the Progressives will give at. 10
ltion in their congressional cam M
ign. fin
t is evident in Washington that the an
publican leaders still are waiting bu
the tariff to undo the Democrats. ste
ere have been no marked signs. 80 gu
as Washington can learn. that the US