New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-03
The Administrations First Year.

The first year Of the Wilson administration ends
tomorrow 1t has been year Of incessant ACTIVITY
and Of substantial achievement Mr.. Wilson has
already written his name high the list Of the
Presidents who have done things. He has absolutely
dominated the Executive Department, and has be-
sides been able TO impose his ideas TO an extraordi
nary extent upon docile Congress- No other Pres1-
dent since jefferson has ever held Congress so COM
pletely in the hollow Of his hand. The two houses
have been in continuous session for the last eleven
months and under the Presidents direction have
accomplished important results which must be cred
tied 10 his initiative and courage as party leader
The two things which stand out IN the first year
of Mr.. Wilson's administration are the downward
revision OF the tariff and the modernzation OF the
banking and currency system. The country had for
some time wanted excessive tariff duties re-
duced. The Payne revision of 1909 disappointed
public expectation and a task which a Republican
Congress was Influenced to neglect through narrow
and obstinate leadership In the Senate was handed
over TO the opposition In the light of the effects Of
the Underwood revision the political bunder Of the
Republican stand-patters in 1909 is only magnihed
Tariff rates do control in the operations of indus
try and commerce. they formerly did, and the Tn
derwood revision although it has affected some Amer
lean industries unfavorably has had little effect gen
orally in altering prices lowering the cost Of living
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the revision has been
to unsette the old-fashioned conviction that tariff
rates are the controlling factor in regulating the cost
and price of commodities. Other factors have be
come more important President Wilson's service in
pricking that bubble must be recognized. The fact
that the Underwood bill has fallen fiat as a mod
orator Of the OF living has left the extremists
on both sides bewdered. Future tariff revslons
llyolx bn inf ctp6
should be- to commissions qualified to deal with them
on q non-poitcal matter-of-fact basis.
The reorganization of the banking system will
probably rank as the administrations greatest work
Common sense had been demanding this for years,
hut the politicians had to be slowly educated before
they were willing 70 undertake task much be-
voud the range of their usual In politics.
Ii was the Presidents good fortune to come into
Office at a time when the way had been pretty we'll
cleared for legislation Of this sort Nevertheless, 1t
required courage aud decision his part to resist
pressure for delay and to hold Congress up TO the
work of framing a bill in accordance with its best
knowledge. Thanks TO the cooperation of intelligent
banking sentiment and to the intelligent criticism OF
Republican leaders like Senator Root many pitfalls
were avoided and the law passed. while far from
perfect was made 30 represent a long advance tow
ard a convenient, modern banking system
The greatest failure Of the administration has
been in dealing with foreign affairs. In this field
its policy has been itfu and inconsistent. In the
estimation Of the Of the world the United States
has seldom appeared 10 less advantage than it has in
handling the Mexican situation The Presidents
programme has been one of drifting He has set less
store on the practical need of protecting life and
property in Mexico and winning back order out OF
chaos than he has holding the government and
Hoa1u ne opa1
action which are hardly realizable in periods of un
rest and violence. There is unfortunately too much
point TO the European criticism that the
President has aggravated conditions in Mexico by
making it impossible for the United States TO
else there the restraining and upbuilding influence
which its position the leading power on this con
tinent constrains IT 10 exercise.
Mr. Wilson's absorption I'm domestic questions may
account for his inaptiude IN dealing with foreign
relations But il is hard TO find any for his
which has put the United States at a still further
disadvantage in applying IT'S foreign policy. 1t is
equally hard 10 find for the complacency
with which the President has approved the various
raids made by Congress on the merit system and the
classified service
Good predominates IN the administrations record
80 far II could be made 70 predominant still more
II in the remaining three years the President should
draw counsel from his first years ndiscretions and
failures.