New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-07
Believes 1t His Duty to
Stay at the White
House.
ANSWERS CONGRESS
COMMITTEE APPEAL
Tells Party Upbuilding of Mer-
chant Marine and ConserVa-
ton Remain Great Tasks.
rG'rom The Tribune Bureau

Doremus, chairman Of the Democratic
Congress Committee, in reply to one
from Mr.. Doremus asking the Presi-
dents assistance.
The President replied that, in view
Of the existing European crisis, he be,
lieves il his duty to stay on the JOB.
He dwells with pride on the achieve
mentS Of the present Congress, asserts
his belief that it deserves well Of the
voters and pays high tribute to those
members Of his party who have been
ever ready to do his bidding. He says
ne will take occasion, "as opportunity
offers, to state and perhaps restate TO
the country in the clearest and most
convicing terms ! can command, the
things which the Democratic party has
attempted to do in the settlement OF
the great questions which have for
many a long year pressed for solution
but that for the most part he will not
go on the stump.
The President declares the two great
legislative tasks still before his party
TO be the upbuilding Of the merchant
marine and the conservation and eco
nomic use of the natural resources.
The Presidents decision not to under
take any systematic campaigning is re-
ceived with complacency by the Demo
cratic leaders. who arc convinced that
all injury to business prosperity which
menaced the success Of the Democratic
party before the European war broke
out will now be attributed to that con-
fict, and not to the tariff bill or other
/ Democratic legislation. They are,
! therefore, optimistic regarding the re-
/ suits of the November elections.
/ The text of the Presidents communi-
fn NJ nnropnnc fOllnuyCs
September 4, 1914.
Ny Dear Mr.. Doremus: ! have
read your letter of September l
with keen appreciation of its i'm
portance. II appeals TO me as the
leader Of the party now in power
with peculiar force and persua-
sveness. The close Of a very ex-
traordinary session of Congress is
at hand which has, | venture TO
say, been more fruitful in impor-
tant legislation of permanent use
funess TO the country than any
session of Congress within the
memory of the active public men
of our generation. A great con-
structive programme has been car
ried through for which the coun-
try has long waited, and has been
carried through with the approval
all parties, and we have abundant
reason to congratulate ourselves
upon the record that has been
made during the busy seventeen
months we have devoted TO our
great legislative task. Certainly
in ordinary circumstances, II we
were free to disengage ourselves
for the purpose, we would be war
ranted in now directing our ener-
geS to great campaign in sup
port Of an appeal TO the country
to give US the encouragement OF IT'S
Endorsement at the autumn cleo
tions.
We could 60 to the country with 1
very sincere appeal in which
there need be no pretence or boast
of any kind, but a plain statement
of things actually accomplished
which ought to be, and | think
would be, entirely convincing. II
Is a record which shows US at peace
with all the world; the questions
which plagued business with doubt
and uncertainty and irresponsible
criticism out of the way, thought
fully settled and disposed of; the
apparent antagonism between gov
eminent and business cleared away
and brought to an end with the
plain reckoning accomplished; the
path for sure-footed adjustment
clear ahead Of us, prosperity GER
tain to come by means which all
can approve and applaud.
Moreover, there is a programme
of another kind ahead Of US TO
which it is inspiring to look for
ward--a programme free from de-
bate except as to the best means
by which to accomplish what all
INN
diately ahead of US are the build
ing up Of our merchant marine
with all that that means in the de-
velopment and diversitcation OF
our foreign commerce and the sys-
tematic conservation and economic
use of our national resources, sub
iects much talked about, but little
acted upon. Here are other great
pieces Of constructive legislation
waiting to be done to which we
could turn without any contro-
versy except, as | have said, as TO
the best ways of doing them.
believe that ways can be found
! to do these things readily enough
if the country will give US its gen
erous support and trust US TO do
them, and it would have been
genuine pleasure to me to ask 10
be given again colleagues such as I
have had in the two houses of Con-
gress during the present memo
Table session. | trust that there
| will be many occasions upon which /
/ NAV have the privilege Of calling T,
the attention Of my fellow-coun-
trymen 70 the fine and unseltish /
service which has been rendered
them by their present representa-
tives, ready at all times to respond =
J TO any appeal which spoke con-
vincingly of the public welfare.
But in view of the unlooked-for
international situation, our duty
has taken on an unexpected as
pect. Every patriotic man ought
now to "stay on his job" until the
/ crisis is passed and ought to stay
! where his job can best be done. We /
must do whatever is necessary and
forego whatever is necessary to
! Keen us in close and active concert :
in order TO relieve in every pos
sible way the stress and strain put
upon our people during the contin-
nance of the present extraordinary
conditions. My job, now know,
can be done best only if | devote
INV whole thought and attention to
il and think of nothing but the du-
+;es Of the hour. | am not at lib
erty. and shall not be, so far as |
can now see, to turn away from
those duties to undertake any kind
of political canvass.
In the present emergency | am
keenly aware of the twofold re-
sponsibility ] am called upon to /
IIscbor0p--the responsibility which &