The Washington herald., 1914-04-05
POLITICAL SITUATION.


Although President Wilson won his
fight for the repeal Of the toll exemp-
ton law in the House, the end is not
yet Not only is contest ahead in the
Senate, but the issue is likely to figdre
largely in the approaching campaign.
Representatives who voted either with
or against the President have been anx-
iously awaiting news from home. In
teryiews with more than twenty men,
bers since the vote was taken indicate
that the popular sentiment was more
largely against repeal than for it. One
New York State Congressman, Dem
ocrat who aligned himself with the
President because he thought il was
wise politics, has already received reso-
lutions from twenty-eight organizations
in his district condemning his action,
and the principal newspaper in his home
town has advised him not to seek re-
election. He is Democrat serving his
first term. Representative Fitzgerald,
chairman of the Appropriations Com
mittee, who voted against repeal, has
received scores of letters commencing
his position, and only two criticisms, one
of which came from a nonresident OF
mis- district. Some Of the Representa-
tives who voted with the President now
wish that they had made more thor
ough convass of their districts. They
imagined that the mere fact that they
supported the President would be SUI
ficient excuse for their action, and they
are now discovering that they may have
made a mistake. 1t is certain that the
Senate is not going TO act until IT gets
an accurate idea as to popular sentiment.
There are thirty-one Senators to be
elected this year by popular vote, and
each one of them has his ear to the
ground. 1t is not what the President
wants, but what the people think that is
the principal consideration with these
Senators now.
Apart from the political considerations
involved in the repeal bill, there is one
phase which has not received attention.
The duties of the President are purely
executive. This is representative gov
ernment and the laws made by the rep
resentatives of the people ought to be
administered by the person chosen for
that purpose Notwithstanding this, il
has become quite the custom for Presi-
dents to endeavor to substitute their in
dividual policies for laws. In the last
administration, for instance. Mr.. Taft
found upon the statute books certain
laws which regulated our commercial
relations with Canada. He proceeded,
however, to negotiate treaty of reci-
procity which set aside these laws and
then sought to make Congress bow to
his will, even calling special session
for that purpose. President Wilson.
when he came into the White House,
found in existence law which exempt
ed from the payment of tolls all Ameri-
can coastwise vessels passing through
the Panama Canal He sought to estab-
lish policy in direct contravention to
this law, and thus far he has succeeded
President Taft paid dearly for his eff
fort. 1t remains to be seen whether
President Wilson will have a like ex-
perience. If he succeeds, his victory
will encourage him, as well as the Pres
idents who follow him, to seek to wipe
from the statute books any law which
does not meet with their approval Man.
of individual will on the part
of chief executives, especially when de-
sire finds a strong ally in the exercise
of Presidential power, open up an in
teresting field of speculation as to the
future OF American government.