Evening star., 1914-03-20
Advisers Regard It as Imper-
ative That He Stump in
Congress Campaign.
HIS POLICIES THE ISSUE
ON WHICH VERDICT RESTS
Continued Majority in Congress Es-
sential to Future of the
Administration.

lue WORK thac Will then be in progress In
government-aided railroad construction
and make a few political speeches on his
way across the continent are met with
intimations that Mr.. Wilson Is not much
OF sightseer. 1t Is also said he does
not care for travelling for the sake of the
pleasure of 1t, would lose too much time
| IN going to Alaska and is willing to leave
the handling Of things there to Secretary
Lane, who will go to Alaska during the
summer in all probability.
That the President Is deeply interested
in Alaska is indicated by the fact that in
leisure moments he is studying maps Of
the country and going over the routes
proposed for construction Of the roads.
He wants to know as much as he can
about the proposed work and the country,
so that he will be familiar with all the
phases as they come up.
AS to political speeches late this sum
mer and this fall. those close to the Prest-
dent are confident that he cannot avoid
appearing before the people, as already
forecasted In The Star.
Administration the Issue.
His administration will be tho issue
the new tariff bill, alleged lack Of pros
perity, the canal tolls question and many
other things. To be able to continue his
successes in legislation the President must
have Congress with him after March 4.
With either branch against him his days
Of putting through legislation he regards
as popular with the masses will be over.
Bickerng, political maneuvering and
fighting will characterize the balance OF
his term in the White House To Mr.. VIII
son, therefore, the campaign this fall
means everything to his party and him
self. His presence in the campaign, with
his recognized ability in handling and
shaping the thoughts of the people, is
deemed imperative. He must and will re-
spond to the call, in the opinion of his
friends and advisers today.
here are a good many things ahead
to poster the President, it was said to-
day. His hope that Congress will ad-
journ early and give the party a chance
to frame its fight before the people Is
sure to be disappointed, according to
news from the Capitol. There 1t Is said
tnat things are moving so slowly that
some time in July and quite likely In
August June Is, the time tentatively
fixed, Is fading away. The attacks upon
the President point the way to what may
be expected in the fall camp aign, and the
whole outlook is for a mighty busy year
for Mr. Wilson.
Prosperity to Show Up.
The President is confident that better
conditions are going to prevail in the
business world within the next few
months. and continuously from then on,
thereby insuring the democrats plenty of
ammunition to fight the republican cry of
depressed conditions, all due to demo-
cratic rule. The President frankly ad-
mits that the railroad situation in the
country is menace, politically and finan-
cially. He has abstained from limiting to
the interstate commerce commission that
1t ought to increase freight rates for east
ern roads. but he has come as near as a
man can to doing SO by candidly agreeing
with callers that the condition of the
roads can be materially bettered through
more liberal policies in some directions
When he has been consulted by members
of the commission he has frankly laid
before them letters and material bearing
upon the increased rate proposition.
Fully aware that the big thing ir
| the business world now Is an admins.
tration tone of helpfulness to the roads
working within the law. the President is
willing. according to what he has told
| friends, to lend any agency within his
| power toward giving the necessary push
toward better times.
Rate Increase Expected.
The President is evidently confident
| that the Interstate commerce commission
| will grant the proposed increase in rates
| and. this Is expected to restore a moral
tone and confidence to the business world
it has not possessed lately, thereby start.
| ing hopeful outlook all along the line.
The danger in the decision of the com.
| mission. however, is said to be that the
| Increase will not be fiat one. but that
| there will be grudging increase in some
classes and absolute refusals in others
! leaving the roads little better off fnan.
| cially and still much in the dark as tc
decision. republicans predict, will not fur.
nish the fabrication that will start the
prosperity machinery to working as the
democrats now wish to see.
| Evidences are multiplying that the f1na
| agreement Of the Department OF Justice
with the New Haven road will help t.
put big business In a little more Cheerful
frame of mind, and If 1t is followed by
liberal treatment OF the roads by the in.
terstate commerce commission politics
viewpoint next fall.
No Sure Thing on House.
An able political mathematician today
pointed out that there are sixty-seven
democrats in the House who were elect
ed by minority vote in November. 1912
| They were elected from districts normal
ly republican. The election of seventy
four new republicans in the House, OF
republicans and progressives, would give
the House to the opposition. 1t is prac.
tically settled by republican leaders thai
they will make their hardest fight this
fall for the House. Whatever money
they can raise will be used against the
! democrats In congressional districts. For.
mer President Taft and all the big guns
will be placed upon the stump. and the
main stock of their arguments will be de-
| pressed business and thousands of un,
employed workmen.
President Wilson and the democrats
must meet this attack. They must hole
the House if the party Is to stay il
power.
1t is also vital that the aseendancy Of
the democrats must be maintained IL
the Senate. but there the democrats ap
pear to have distinct advantage. I'm
less there is a landslide against tht
party in power the democrats have
good chance to increase their number.
ii the upper house of Congress TIL,
prospects are that they will gain Z
number of seats. according to the sit
uation at this time, presuming that thu
democrats have an average run Of lucl
in November next.
The President will want to aid demo
cratic nominees for the Senate and prac
tically will be compelled to make som,