Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-16
Breeze of Popularity
Has Subsided and
Adverse Winds
Are Blowing
Mutiny Threatened Against
Mates-Bryan and Daniels
Are the J0nahs and Changes
in Crew May Be Made
Tangled Situation Both Psy-
Geological and Very Real.

w dSAinS tOu correspondent writes.
| There is no concealing the fact that
| friends of the President, if not the
President himself. are worried over the
general political situation as it affects
the Administration. The basic reason
| for this worry is that in spite of two
years of legislative Accomplishment, In
| spite of two years of persistent and
| steady attention to business, the Ad-
ministration has unquestionably lost
that fine flush of popularity with which
| 1t came into office. Of course, this
worry does not appear on the surface
except at odd moments and by acct
dent, but visitors to Washington who
are close to the Administration have
reflected during the last few weeks
with great clearness this slightly dis
couraged attitude. 1t is not, they re-
port, an attitude of great discourage
ment: it Is rather an attitude of sur
; prised dismay that public temper is
| not more friendly than. it is.
Cabinet MiIstones.
The Presidents friends are said to be
gradually recognizing that some of the
PRESIDENTS Cabinet are millStones
around his neck. Mr.. Bryan for ex-
ample. Is probably more of handi-
cap than an asset, in spite of his for
mer popularity and his present ability
to draw crowds who will pay good
money to hear him deliver platitudes.
Reports from the West where Mr..
Bryan, has been in great favor indicate
that even that region has turned orfis
turning against hims that, ins short. his
popularity as great democrat with
small ID has disappeared beneath
the wave of ridieule which he drew to
himself by his obvious inattention to
public duties and his equally obvious
Inability to live on the ST., COZ a year
supplied him as his wages for being
Secretary of the State. The other con-
spieuous milestone, of course, is jose
phus Daniels, as Secretary of the Navy,
now prominent in the limelight be-
cause of his little navy attitude at
time when good navy or no navy are
the only sensible alternatives Runners
of clashes between Daniels and Garri-.
son, with the President taking the
side of Daniels and the possible ex-
clusion of Garrison from the Cabinet,
continue to circulate here and must
be taken, If not at their face !, value,
then as indicators of sentiment
which probably exists outside of
Washington as well as within the cap
ital itself
Some More Psychology.
One reasonable explanation of the
situation thus suggested is that in his
legislative work as we'll as in his rela-
tons with his department chiefs, the
President has somehow failed to make
himself the master. This may seem
like a paradox, particularly In view Of
the unusually strong control over Con-
gress which the President apparently
has had. AS a matter of fact. how-
ever. men who have followed legisla-
ton very closely can cite instance
after specific instance to show that the
President was not familiar with the
legislation which he was supposedly
debating, and that in, case after case
he was merely standing as a figure.
head in the midst of the forces which
were playing practically their own will
upon the measures In question This
is putting 1t, no doubt, a little strong
ly, but there have been, as in the case
of the waterpower bill last summer,
such striking examples Of the Presi-
dents lack of intelligent control, where
statement is not unfair. What Wilson
has seemingly set up as his aim is leg
fslation bills, bills with names attached
to them which were what he thought
the people wanted He secured the
passage Of the tariff bill, because the
people wanted revision of the tariff,
and probably no one was as surprised
as the President himself to find that
the tariff reduction did none Of the
beneficent things which it was adver-
tised to do. and did several things
which were admittedly unfortunate.
Must Regain Popularity
While he has been working quietly
away, President Wilson's Cabinet
officers have been accommodating I'M
popularity which has, of course ascen-
ded to him and has done him probably
more harm than 1t has done them 1t |
is understood that friends of the Pres |
ident who have dropped in on him. late
ly have begun to see that Messrs.
Bryan, Daniels & Co. are fast becoming |
undesirable members Of a dignified |
Official family. and it is not at all I'M
likely that earnest advice has been
given the President showing him that |
If he would regain that popularity |
which he possessed during the first |
year of his regime he must, first ar |
range things so that his Cabinet will |
be more respected than. it is today, |
and he must second, secure the pas
sage through Congress of some legis- |
lation which will really be of some |
definite benefit to the people who are !
still suffering because the cost Of living |
is high and who will not very much !
longer believe that the Democratic 1
party can or win do anything to help |
them. Mr.. Wilson, In short, is tangled |
in situation which is both psychol- /
ogical and very real. His problem is |
how to get out of it.
Half and Half" in Danger Again
Another attack on the District of |
Columbia is made in amendment to the |
district appropriation bill proposed In |
the House by Chairman Ben johnson /
Of Kentucky. It Is cowardly because |
t. L. - L. -.