The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-09-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(By j. X. Daugherty.

Washington, d. c., Sept. 21--Spe-
cial Correspondence Democrat
ic victory won in the election in
Maine is considered by Congressman
( Henry Vollmer of the second district
as certain forecast of Democratic
success in Iowa this fall. He takes
the result to mean that the people
believe the administration is entitled
to support and that the president is
entitled to have a congress back Of
him that will work in sympathy with
him. In an extended interview
based on the Maine returns, Mr.. VOll-
mer said:
'The election in Maine where
there was an absolute gain in Demo-
cratic votes as compared with the
votes for Woodrow Wilson in 1912,
, and where besides holding our repre-
sentative in Congress-, we gained the
governor of the state, indicates to
me that the people are with the
Democratic party at the present mo-
ment. For many years Maine in the
September election has been re-
garded as a sort of barometer to
indicate what kind of political wea-
Their we were going to have in No
vember. remember for many years,
l believe ever since she went hell
bent for Governor Kent and Tippe-
canoe and Tyler, too, that it was
regarded as a political axiom that if
the Republican majority in Maine at
the September election fell below
$4,000 that the country was going
Democratic at the succeeding No
vember election. Even if we add the
Bull Moose vote to the regular re-
publican vote, at this election, the
democrats would be in minority of
less than $4,000. But the progress
sives' detection of approximately
$4,000 enabled us to capture the state
by about 5000, and President Will
son and his cabinet are fully justified
in the jubilation to which they have
given expression. But why should
not the country support this admins
tration, as it's record is record of
achievement that it would be diff
cult to duplicate in the entire history
of this country"
Enumerating some of the legis-
lative achievements of this admins
tration Mr.. Vollmer said:
In the legislative field we have,
first the revision of the. tariff in ac
cordance with the mandate Of the
people as expressed at the ballot box
in November, 1912.
1--WE have the banking and cur
rency act, providing for a mucn
needed currency and banking system,
which will go into effect in the near
future, making panics impossible and
undoubtedly give great relief to the
financial situation and enable us to
meet the great emergencies caused
by the European war.
I'VE have further the trust legis-
lation, which in spite of all the
howls in the Republican press of
Iowa, has on it's merits commanded
the support of both the Republican
senators and the Republican delega-
ton from Iowa in the House of rep
resentatives.
1--WE have besides that the inaug-
ura ton of the income tax, the most
just form of taxation that can pos
statesman of either party dares to
suggest that it be repealed. Then
we have an intelligent. progressive
conservation program which is to be
matured and large number of other
acts, either passed or in contempla-
ton and all in the interests of the
people, too numerous for me to re-
cite them here
And not only is the legislative rec
ord of this administration splendid
one, but it is also brilliant on its
administrative side. OF this Mr.. Voll-'
mer said:
''The browning glory of this admin
istration is it's foreign policy, which
for so long was the object of a very
great deal of contempt and criti-
cism But people now see plainly
the moral and intellectual grandeur
Of our President, who would not per-
nit yellow press or yellow Con-
gressmen and enators to hound
him into war with Mexico, which
could have brought neither glory or
profit; which would have cost us
100000 a, day for five years, and
in view of the interests of the Euro
pean belligerents down there, and
the many complications that would
necessarily have arisen, would I'M
doubtedly have landed us right in
that awfulness in which the nations
of Europe are now involved-the
greatest war in history. In my opin-
ion it would have been an impossi-
bility to keep the United States out
of that European war, If at this time
we were involved in the conquest OF
Mexico"
That these considerations will be
sufficient to rally the patriotic citi-
zens behind President Wilson and to
win support for the Democratic can
didates for Senate and House is Mr..
Vollmer's confident belief.
'Under these circumstances the
administration is entitled to the sup
port of the people, said Mr.. Vollmer.
1.-THE President is entitled to have
Congress back of him that will work
in sympathy with him and not try
to double-cross him at every oppor-
tunity. While it is important enough
as far as the House of Representa-
Stives is concerned, it is particularly
important as far as the Senate is
concerned, because of their direct
connection and powerful influence
unon the foreign policy Of the execu-