The Washington herald., 1914-08-16
Political Situation.

The political situation has changed nightly dur
ing the past seven days
e, A week ago, as The Washngton Herald then
pointed out, there, was aesuniverssr consensus OF
opinion that the Democratic administration would
profit by the European war The tragedy abroad has
diverted the attention of the American people from
themselves while the falling of in importations will
not only revive industry IN this country but will
save the Democrats from being attacked on. the
tariff issue While these things are true, there are
also three factors which not so favorable the
Democrats and which must be considered. The first
is the necessity which has arisen for imposing add
tional taxes upon the people, the second is the Ger
man wireless problem, and the third is the sudden
and excessive increase in the cost of living. Z
The question of how to add to the burden of taxa
ton without creating much antagonism is causing
the Democratic leaders considerable anxiety. The
people already believe that they too heavily taxed
Further burdens will be most unpopular. Notwith-
standing all the professions of friendship toward big
business" which now emansting from the White
House, Congress would If it could, compel wealthy
corporations and individuals to make good the deficit
in customs receipts, This cannot be done this year.
at any rate, and so some ether kind of tax must
be devised There is possibility, Of course, that
the Democrats will trust to luck and avoid the enact
ment of revenueproducing legislation until after the
elections This is the program which they now have
in mind. 1t is proposition born of the knowledge
that continuance of Democratic administration, al
ready seriously mensced would be made almost i'm
possible if taxes increased, To avoid squarely
meeting the issue which confronts the country the
present time would, however, be confession OF
political eowardice which would be hurtful the
enactment of tax legislation. 1t is hardly likely that
the Democrats charged with the responsibility of
government will care to go before the country on
the eve of an election with the fact made apparent
that they afraid to grapple with the serious prob
lem created by the -.h--
The increase in the of necessities though
the Democrats are not directly responsible viii react
against the administration. The President has done
wise thing in attempting to check this increase
by threat of governmental prosecution and by his
activity in endesvoring to learn whether the rise
is justified Judging from the past however, the
effort to bring prices back to their normal level will
be futile There will be Investigations and confer
ences and much correspondence, but in the end the
consumer will pay. All that the President can do
is to show his good faith toward the people, who
will give him credit for his good intentions, even
though nothing is accomplished. Eventually, how
ever, the shoe of high prices will pinch badly and
then the people will show their resentment by voting
against the powers that be.
The German wireless station on the coast of Long
Island is also political factor The German-Ameri
cans are all wrought up the anti German views
which is coming to this country from London, Paris
and Brussels and the censorship placed by the ad-
mnistration on the German station has aroused much
indignation, especially as the English and French
cables exempt from surveillance. The fact is
that censors placed in the cable Offices would not
avail, inasmuch as messages could go into Canada
by mail telephone or telegraph and thence to Nova
Scotia, where they could be cabled to the other
side Meanwhile the embargo against Germany con-
tinues and if it is not lifted very large number
OF Germans will be against the administration
So that the war is not an unmixed blessing to the
Democrats.