The Washington herald., 1914-09-03
The War and Our Elections.

The announcement is made, seemingly with au-
,hority that President Wilson will make speeches
in the Congressional campaign this autumn 1t is
intimated in high Democratic quarters that he deems
the outlook so satisfactory that he believes his voice
will not be necessary to insure the return of the
party to power in Congress.
Five weeks ago most Republicans were confident
that they would overcome the huge Democratic ma
jor:y n the House at the polls next November, and
some were even so bold as to claim fighting chance
to capture the Senate. Now they frankly admit
ting that the in Europe has changed the entire
situation. Not only has the administration gained
strength by its wise and firm dealing with the prob
lens arising from the European conflict, but, polt-
clans who look ahead the tide of prosperity for
this country setting in before November and be-
coming the principal, if not the only issue at the
polls The business depression, which the President
described psychological but which appeared very
material to commercial and industrial interests every
whrIe must necessarily be dissipated whatever its
form, once fields and factories begin supplying
the worli with food and with the clothing and other
manufactured products which stricken Europe will
be forced TO buy because her population has aban-
doned all other trades for that of war. The majority
of voters not in the habit of making deep in
quiry into the of effect They placed the Demo
Gratis in power it will be enough for them that
prosperity has come under Democratic rule and they
will be disposed to keep them in Office.
Looking still further into the future many Of
those Republicans who few weeks ago could not
make themselves Democrat in the White House
beyond the present term, reluctantly admit that the
Democratic prospect is brighter than at any time
since March 4, 1913, and is likely to improve The
war in Europe has in effect not only repealed the
Democratic low tariff, but has given to every form
of American industry degree of protection greater
than ever dreamed of by the most vehement high
tariff advocate. Practically all of Europe is eIim-
mated as competitor. Our own mills and our own
wcrISnen must produce nearly everything that we
consume, and besides there will be opportunity for
tremendously increased output to supply not only
Eu-oPe's normal demand but the vast increase neces-
say to maintain the equipments of armies in the field
Not only will the money would have sent abroad
to pay for European products-which under the new
than those of manufacture-be kept here
but greatly increased exports must soon create
for US huge credit abroad. Until war broke out
the prospect was only for the steady accumulation
of balance of trade against US Thus it is difficult
to see how an era of great prosperity can fail to
come TO this country the result of reversal by
the European war of the most potent of the Demo-
cratic policies
With the possibility that this wave of prosperity
may be at its height in 1916 it is no wonder that
Republicans less confident in their predictions
Of single for the Democratic Presidential ad-
uinistration