Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-06

has crowded Congress for two years
in the hope of getting done all he
wanted as against the prospect that
he would have an adverse Congress
for the concluding two years. He has
certainly gotten from the present Con-
gress as much legislation in two years
as a President usually gets from two
Congresses in four years. The Dem
ocrats have been exceedingly compH-
ant They appear on the point of re-
bellion now and then, as happens just
at present, with the ship purchase bill.
They are pressing hard in Congress to
clean up scores of odds and ends of
business, which could not be disposed
of were the Senate or the House Re-
publican.
The European war has profited the
administration politically, as was in
evitable. Democrats wish the election
could be held right away, for they
fear some of the war advantage may
be dispelled. Their readiness to utilize
this situation is illustrated again in
the legend On the cover of their cam
paign text book as already cited.
Meanwhile Republicans are thump-
| ing away on essential phases in the
/
the voters. 1t is vigorous campaign
! of education and the time is brief in
which to make it effective. But the
novelty If the war situation is wear
| ing away end Democratic luck, espe-
ciallv Wilson luck, about which so
much is said nowadays, may not foid
firmly till November.
| Democrats in Congress from the North
|
are worrying about their districts and
| they probably have reason for worrying.
Business depression has rested heavily
upon the industrial centers. Demands
from Europe for various manufactured
articles are helping some, but there is the
money stringency. which the treasury de-
partment is working overtime to relieve.
Attacks are coming from many quarters
and there must be defence. 1t is charg-
ed that the President, for instance, has
beer, favoring the banks by declining to
take SO, 900, 600 of government deposits
from them and, instead. favoring special
taxes TO the extent of s1Oo.00o,0Oo. There
is certainly money enough in sight to
run the government for many months,
and it is question whether the Euro
pean war will last much longer than next
spring.
An interesting little sidelight OF the nu-
merous troubles which these Democratic
congressman are having Is in the cam
paign of women against all of them. The
Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage
is carrying their fight into every possible
Democratic district and urging the voters
to defeat Democratic candidates. They
| 20 at bat G.
ident and his Democratic Congress have
declined to give the proposed amendment
to the constitution, granting equal sur
frage consideration. This amendment
has been deity shelved in the House by
the rules committee, although the ladies
were given many hearings and an enort
made to Indicate that Democrats were
much interested In equal suffrage This
suffrage organization believes in party re-
sponsibility and propose that the Demo-
cratic party shall not escape blame for
ignoring this amendment. 1t Is well I'M
derstood that there will not be time
enough at the next session Of Congress to
give this amendment consideration.
Thousands of reports are being made to
the clerk of the House these days under
the law which requires candidates for
congressional nominations to file list OF
their expenses. The reports are of nc
special interest for no candidate spends
any money worth mentioning, for which
the law requires him to account. 1t Ii
very much of a farce and will be till the
law is strengthened.
Prohibitionists are making great ef-
forts for a showing in this congressional
campaign. They are conducting contests
in several states. The liquor question Is
figuring in the politics of many localities
Ohio and Indiana are particular exam
pies. And again the Democrats are com
ing in for blame because they failed te
bring the constitutional amendment fol
prohibition to vote in Senate anc
House. That was also cleverly shelvec
although there was time to consider nu'
merous measures In one house or the
other, which have no chance OF becoming
law.