The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-14
DEMOCRATS FEEL WILSON STRENGTH
 IS GREAT ASSET


 mocratic feeling prevails when President Wilson is away from Wash ington. This applies alike to legis- lation, administration and politics. Democrats are well aware, from all re- ports they get from constituents, that the president is much stronger than his party Accordingly they lean much upon him. There is a, friend Illness, but no great intimacy between him and the legislators. Nevertf1e- less, they have a. sense of greater se- curity when he is near. They want to consult him about every important move. Two decades ago Senate or House would formulate a particular policy of it's own. without especial re- gard to the White House. That would not be thought of at present.
 If half one hears from the states be true, President Wilson is becoming a very popular official. This popularity appears to be of a profound variety, formed after months of doubt followed by opinions of much certainty. A Boston Democratic congressman, who
 makes politics g. business and watches alertly for sentiment, tells how a month ago he made Q, little speech in which he praised the president and did not get a, hand. Within the past week he was making another speech and said about the same things regarding the president, over again The aud fence went in raptuFes.
 The presidents popularity, as the congressman analyze 1t, is of a. very sterling variety. If he t'gets by, in the congressional elections this a,u- tIlnn, as Washington now very gen orally expects he will, if a. Democratic House and a, Democratic Senate are reelected, politicians believe the pres ident will become 8, very great force. l They think his renomination and re- election will be almost taken for grant ed in the course of 8 few months. Bus l mess depression has been the greatest ! danger to the democracy, but a re- vivaI is said to be not far away. Long before s1916 commerce and industry will be thriving, business men as usual. will forget the past, feel satisfied with 1 the good times and be very averse to any change at Washington. Thus the prophets are reading the prospects.
 The program of 8 months at Wash 1 ington has been entirely of the presi- dents making. It would be a long list that enumerated the things he has l done and required to be done. Wheth- CT 1t has been the immediate work of 1 his own office, or something in the de- i partments, or something in Congress. it has all turned out we'll. There is nothing the party has effected which Democrats in authority would like to undo. They would not change the tariff, or the currency laws, or the re- | 1 or the policy in Mexico. Added po1it- 1 ical strength has come from all these. even though most bitterly assai1ed at times by Republicans. Indeed, Re- publican criticism. most virulent at in- tervals and frequently unjust, has re- 1 coiled on the heads of minority con gressmen. But the presidents insist ence for what he wanted has been without rancorous results. Democrats, who have differed from him. feel no 1 hurts. And all this has inspired the Demo cratic Congress, as it has undoubtedly 1 inspired the country, with increasing confidence in the presidents wisdom and good Judgment. The idea per
 meates Washington that there is real ity and sincerity in the president s 1 purpose to make his administration one of genuine public service. Fights have started every now and then, as
 happens just at present with the war l revenue bill, but these are all settled l the presidents way.
 Washington is waiting with bated l breath for the Maine returns. Demo l crats of late have been feeling that
 this will surely be a Democratic year.
 But the Maine election is expected to 1 put this sentiment to a test and the great reJoicing will depend upon which side wins. The attitude of the admin fistration, as between confidence and fear, will be measured by the Pine Tree state tally.