The Washington times., 1914-03-27
THE TOLLS CONTRO-
VERSY.


1t requires no more than a casua
glance under the surface of thing
political on Capitol Hill to see writ
ten plain and large at the bottom
OF the canal tolls contest the legend
1916" The struggle for control o.
the Democratic party in the mex
Presidential campaign is on. There
has been no great change in thu
lineup from that which was pre-
sented at Baltimore two years ago
The opponents of the President ther
are his opponents now. They are
finding in the tolls issue the long.
desired justification for preserving
the old alignment and solidifying the
forces.
No more egregicus mistake could
be made than to assume that the
decision of the tolls question can be
reached on the consideration of the
arguments that will be discussed on
the floor. The battle inside the
Democracy. not the battle over q
canal policy, is being fought. Until
now the President has been fortu-
nate in that he has not felt COM
PEELED to take a position on any
issue that left strong and popular
side open to occupation by his oppo-
nents. He took some chances during
the tariff controversy, notably in in
sisting on the provision for ultimate
free sugar; but it was not a big
enough and popular enough issue to
enable his antagonists to maneuver
him, into disadvantageous stand.
On the tolls proposition it is by no
means certain that he is SO fortu-
nate. That he will finally win his
fight for repeal is generally believed;
but he will be saved by Republican
votes, just as Roosevelt used to be
saved by Democratic votes in the
years that preceded the schism in
the Republican party. Democratic
solidarity or anything like it ends
with this contest.
Speaker Clark has taken his stand
against the President, and with his
own record and the party's platform.
There can be no criticism of him
for doing this. He is consistent, and
he is human. There has been no
misunderstanding about the Speak
er's sentiments toward the chief of
his party. Like a good many other
Democrats who were disappointed,
though in far less degree than he, by
the outcome at Baltimore, he has
been watched with keen concern ever
since the 1912 election for signs of
his political purpose. It has come
to be believed that he would not
dislike the opportunity to test his
steel with that of the President, pro-
vided fair forum and equal oppor-
tunity might be secured. On the
tolls proposition the Presidents op-
poncnts feel that at length they have
that chance.
The Speakers handling of himself
in this party crisis is more credita-
BILE to him than was the conduct of
the anti-Administration leaders in
the older days of early Republican
division. 1t was not the custom of
the anti-Roosevelt managers, in
House and Senate, to come forth
boldly and proclaim their opposition
to the party's head. They were
wont to palaver, to juggle, to
smother measures and connive at
defeats; they preferred to make no
very sharp-written record of opposi-
ton. Speaker Clark is more frank
and hold. He comes to the front
and center and takes his stand in the
open.
1t will not be overlooked that
Speaker Clark has the advantage of
holding the loyal support of the
Democratic membership of the
House, SO far as his personal for
tunes are concerned. If the Demo-
Gratis control the next House he will
be reelected Speaker. Without seri-
Gus doubt, he will be nominated
unanimously in his party caucus.
Again is observed the parallel be-
tween present conditions in the DEM
ocratic party and former conditions
in the Republican. Mr.. Cannon was
not popular at the White House in
the time of Roosevelt, but Roose-
velt never attempted to defeat him
for Speaker. Even Taft, who came
to the Presidency with huge ma
jority and a vast fund of prestige
and party confidence at his back,
failed ignoriniously when he under
took to turn out Cannon. The House
has way Of elccting it's own Speak
ers, and President Wilson will hardly
undertake to discipline Mr.. Clark for
the course he is now taking.
Thus the Democratic party faces