West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-10-01
WHY SWAP HORSES IN
MIDDLE OF The STREAM
A Sympathetic Congress Has Stood
by the President and Put Over the
Constructive Program OF Achieve
ment-Senstors and Conaressmen
Who Have Shared In Responsibility
Entitled to "A Vote OF Confidence"


Entitled to "A Vote OF Confidence"
Washington. ID. c., Sept. 26.-In the
preliminary Democratic councils, held at
Washington, the lines. of the fall cam
paign have been clearly drawn. The
paramount issue. according to the pre-
vailing gossip, is simply this:
Shall President Wilson and the Demo.
cratic maiorities OF the House and Senate
who have stood by him i'm putting over
constructive progressive legislation receive
a vote Of confidence from the American
electorate?
In many particulars, the situation is
critical. "A everybody realizes, the
President, with Congress assisting willing.
ly, has met the financial and commercial
crisis brought upon this country 10y the
European war wisely and efficiently. But
the war is to continue indefinitely. Some
war problems are in course of solution
and others are certain TO arise. The
United States occupies an international
situation that requires delicate handling.
The case very forcibly reviyes the old in
junction against swapping horses while
crossing a stream.
Much more besides the war situation
is 10 be considered in the same light. The
new banking system provided by the
Federal Reserve act is on the eve of
taking effect, and the test of its success
must be determined in the two years to
come. The Federal Trade Commission
created by the Trade Commission Bill
must be organized and put to work.
Since the extra tariff session met a year
ago last April, Congress has done worders
by way of providing the country with re-
form legislation which has been demand
ed for years. The crush OF business has
necessitatpd the postponement OF rural
credits legislation and may result in de-
ierring action in the Senate upon the
Rayburn Securities Bill. The bills i'm the
conservation program have passed the
House, but are yet to pass the Senate.
Next winters session ends by law March
4. Therefore il is possible that these
and other important matters may have
to be turned over to the incoming Con-
gress.
In considering the political application
OF argument against changing horses,
there arises naturally the question of
what constitutes the horse upon which so
much progress has been made. IL is not
horse really; il is team-the Presi-
dent and sympathetic Congress.
The Presidents effective leadership is
conceded and universally Landed. But
| the Presidents principle OF action has
been that of seeking common counsel
before acting. In this manner he has
been able to secure the cooperation OF
| Congress to degree without example i'm
| modern political history. The President :
measures and policies have succeeded be-
cause the Democratic majorties of the
House and Senate have stood by him
| through hot weather and cold, through
praise and blame, no matter whetlsr the
| going was heavy or easy. 1t follows that
| the Democratic Congressman and Sc lators
4
and who have stood by the President are
entitled to share the benefits of "vote
| of confidence"
Advices reaching Washington from all
parts of the country show that substanti-
atty this line OF reasoning is running in
the minds OF the public at large Hence,
the Democratic outlook is considered ex.
cellent.
The House Republicans have suddenly
put the soft pedal upon attacks on the
sugar schedule of the Underwood Tariff.
After having inserted sugar speech after
| speech in the Congressional Record, with
view to harping insistently upon the
theme in the fall election, the high pro-
tectionists have suddenly concluded to
look elsewhere for campaign thunder.
This change Of front is due to the very
fact that the effect of the European War
| upon the sugar market contains an ex.
cellent defense Of the action of the Demo
Gratis in providing for gradual reduction
of sugar tariffs until free sugar is
| reached.
The reduction in effect prior to the out
| break of the war had reduced the retail
price OF sugar from and cents a pound
to and 8 cents pound. Under the
! present war conditions, housewives are
paying 8, 8 and 10 cents a pound. The
price has fluctuatcd somew hat; but the
existing average-with little prospect Of
early relief is about cents a pound.
The situation amply corroborates the
Democratic argument that high sugar
tariffs hugely increase the price Of sugar
to the consumers OF the United States and
constitute heavy tribute laid upon the
general public for tie benefit OF very few
people. The high tariff creates an arti-
fetal condition strongly resembling that
created by the European war, The Con-
gress and the Government are powerless
in the face Of the conditions caused by
the war; but they can--and have in the
Underwood Act-prevent such a situation
existing during normal times.
Tho nav 80 D.--