Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-30
Lock Horns With Party Lead
ers, ALL Of Whom May Not
orgetItInthe Future
Sen. Burleigh FavOrs Buying
Jefterson's Home, Monticello


ciaD.-Democrati brethren appear to
be getting in deeper and deeper. After
quite a year of rare good polittcal
fortune, they are now meeting with
the reverses which weere bound to
come. Panama Canal Tolls exemption
repeal apparently is spelling disaster
for the party. Perhaps President
Wilson will get the repeal through
both branches of Congress and per-
haps he will not In either event the
legislation or the attempted legisla-
ton has brought to the surface long
dormant tendencies of Democrats to
divide into factions. Heretofore the
party has acted during the Wilson
administration with substantial unan-
unity Now it is divided and the fac
lions are ready to fight out out their
jealousies to a finish. They will car
nv these into the campaign in the au-
tumn and probably reap the usual re-
ward of political division-defeat at
the polls.
Speaker Champ Clark has long been
anxious to get a good hard blow at
the administration He has not wished
to expose his own skin in doing it
but he has not forgotten how forces
that are now behind Wilson were the
undoing of the Clark boom at Balti-
more. oS course the President made
a show of magnanimity for the Speak
,er. He nominated one or two men
to Office in Missouri whom the Speaker
wanted. He also gave a dinner re-
Gently at the White House in the
Sneakers honor. But this has not OBJ
liberated from the Speakers memory
what happened to him at Baltimore
And the presidential ambition in him
is strong indeed. The President is
supposed to be under pledge not TO
be a candidate again but indications
have been that his party would COM
pei him to disregard it.
However, if the Speaker can break
down the Presidents prestige, he
would have taken steps toward pre-
venting Wilson's denomination in 1916
and by doing that the Speaker would
have improved his own chances of
being nominated. The Speaker in 1917
had as his staunch supporter William
r. Hearst and Hearst has been fight
ing President Wilson as hard as he
could but no harder than he is fight
ing the repeal bill. Hearst, to whom
the Speaker is under great obliga-
ton. is pressing him tremendously to
help in the repeal fight and, naturally,
the temptation is great.
But the Democratic Congress is full
of dissension over the question. Ihe
scrapping within Democratic ranks
over the question is already of the ola
time variety which warrants the long
spoken statements about the turbu-
lent and factional character of the
Democratic party.
New England, as represented in
Congress by Democrats, nesltates 10
come to the Presidents support ana
that makes for political bitterness.
The President has not been over gen
erous with favors for the New Eng
land Democrats He might have for
given the New England tendency TO
support Clark by reason of the ain
ance of Democratic machines there
with the Speaker, but he has not been
able TO forgive the cold manner in
which New England. especially Mass
iachusetts, treated him, when he went
there on a speaking tour The old
Irish Democratic crowd in the Bay
state mace II just as Noiu $3.50
comfortable for him as they could
while he was within the state. Inc
Curleys and the Fitzgeralds and the
washes and the Coughlins held alooi'
J OF course the President carried those
states by reason Of Republican owl
SIGN but these old Democratic ma
chimes in New England have gotteh
mighty little from the President since.
The only federal places they nave neen
allowed were those the President conio
not well decline to give them, WITH
out declaring open war.
While this attitude has applied espec-
iallv to Massachusetts, its influence up
an Maine and other contiguous states
sb.s been noticeable Now that the
PRESIDENT is In need of help, these New
England Democrats, or most OF them,
are lust standing aside and telling WIN
much satisfaction how they propose 10
vote against the repeal bill. This does
not altogether apply to the two Maine
Democrats in Congress but they are get
ting the credit for such an attitude.
If the Democratic majority in Senate
and House breaks down now, the Presi-
dent viii speedily find himself in hard
straits as 10 ltSiSldtiOii. II va
Democratic history over again Presi-
dent Cleveland got along well with ms
party In his second administration for
about a year. till he attempted to repeal
the purchasing clause of the Silver law
Then fur began to fly and factional diff
ferences to be emphasized. The purchas-
ing clause was repealed but Cleveland
had to have Republican votes to do 1t
and thereafter his prestige with Con-
gress was gone. 1t was very plain al
ready that there are not Democratic
votes enough in either the Senate or the
House to carry through President Will
sons request. II is also very certain
that the large Irish vote will not forgive
the President for turning control of the
Isthmian Canal over to the British Gov
eminent. The Irish vote, of course, will
desert the Democrats this autumn for it
] has always been very independent fac
tor
IL there is to be Democratic demorali-
szation over the canal bill, ii will extend
to other matters of legislation now pend
ing. Decentralization of the general pro-
gram might be expected and the efforts
2 10 have Congress complete its work by
July viii probably fail