Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-30
THE DEMOCRATS
ARE BACKING
and FILLING
Driven from Many I'm
sound Positions by Re-
publican Leaders
in Congress
Reluctantly Sever Some of the
Southern Pork Barrel Pipe
Lines-Extravagant Betrayal
of Platform Pledges and Cam
paign Pretenses Call Forth
Strong Criticisms-Few Wis.,
itors in Washington

Washington, D. c., Sept. 20. (Spec-
iaD.-The Democratic administration
is taking back water and cutting many
didoes. It's leaders have lost their
steadiness and the aspect has become
one of entertainment for the Wash
ington on-lookers. There was the
double somersault, for example, in
the freight tax as feature of the
war revenue bill, which Republicans
are emphasizing as entirely unnec-
essary If only there was a semblance
of economy in the management of the
nations affairs. And there has also
been a right about-face on the rivers
and harbors Pork Barrel bill, by
which the total is to be reduced
materially, after Republicans, like
Senators Burton of Ohio, Kenyon of
Iowa, and Borah of Idaho, had talked
with determination for many days.
OF course President Wilson gave the
word to the Democrats that they
ought to stop fighting the Republican
filibusters and make up a bill which
the country would and could approve.
But there was a wait of two or three
months before he did this and then,
only when the Democratic majority
in the Senate was doomed to defeat.
The word came from the White House
by telephone to Senator Simmons, of
North Carolina, who has been leading
the rivers and harbors forces. 1t is a
bitter defeat for the Senate Democrats
| to take and emphasizes the woeful
lack of Democratic leadership in that
| body.
| 1t looks as though the administra-
! ton might have to take defeat on
some parts of the war revenue bill and
also on the bill for the purchase OF
merchant ships by the government and
| for government operation of them in
the transatlantic and South American
trade. There is much question
whether the administration can buck
the opposition sentiment against this
shipping bill.
The President has ordered the troops
| to withdraw from Vera Cruz, but this
has been followed by voluminous pro-
tests. Gen. Funston has Joined In
| advising that the departure of his
army force from Mexico be delayed
lest serious disorder there ensue.
| President Wilson, on the other hand,
| believes that the constitutionalists are
doing we'll and should be encouraged
as much as possible. It seems GER
tain tie army will all be out of
| Mexico within a fortnight or so, for If
| there be delay as Gen. Funston rec
| ommends, 1t will be but for q brief
| while.
Business in Congress is moving
slowly. Notwithstanding their big
majorities in both branches, Demo-
cratic members are not united. Every
few days there is fresh row and all
the ingenuity of the leaders Is re-
CURED to patch up peace and get on
working basis again.
Democrats face a terrible raking
fire from the Republican critics these
days. The National Republican Con-
gressional committee is putting out
what it regards as hot stuff every
few days, showing up" phases Of
Democratic administration. There is
a Republican Congressional committee
also ION the Job" and making the
Democrats vince from time to time
for their extravaganza and general
inefficiency. They are making the
battle merry one and no matter
what the odds against them propose
to keep on fighting till November.
The Belgian commissioners who came
to Washington to protest against the de-
struction of Louvain by the German
| army and against other atrocities, made
| an excellent impression here but they
commanded public attention for only a
1 tNU0 ha
| from the German Emperor, intended to
offset the Belgians and also a message
| from President Poincare refuting Will
helms charges about the use of dunn dunn
bullets. Ordinarily such things would
| have kept Washington agog with interest
for many days. Just now, however, there
are too many other things in the public
| eye. The front pages of the newspapers
have been crowded with war news, morn
ing and evening, and the protests of rui-
ers and commissioners about the meth
DDS of conducting war are tame by COM
| parison
| Possibly more representations of this
| kind may be expected from Europe as
| the weeks pass. Well informed people
here do not expect the war to end for
| awhile and perhaps not for many months.
| The SO called war legislation has ceased
somewhat in general interest but is to
| the fore again in the revenue bill. This,
| however, is taking on more of a political
aspect and is being viewed generally by
| the official world here in that light. Tons
| of argument may be expected in an effort
to show that 1t is not due primarily to
| the war but to the failure of the Under
| wood tariff law. Many orators are al
ready digging up figures to prove such
contentious.
The railroads have come before the In
terstate Commerce Commission again
asking that the five per cent. rate in
crease be re-opened. Their request for
re-argument has been granted and 1t will
make an interesting contention. The
roads in the Ohio valley and thereabout
we're permitted to increase their freight
rates, it will be remembered, by the de-
cision of the commission last July. The
Eastern roads were refused request for
an increase. They want now to have
such permission and 1t Is not improbable
that tTey ri11 Tuzo - <hrao -