The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-31
CLAIM WILSON |S LOSING HIS GRIP
Criticism Is Breaking Out in
 Many Directions
COLQUITT THE LATEST
President Is No Longer Exempted From the General Criticism Directed Against Demo-
 cratic Party
ax GEoRGE GARNER

Washington, December 29.-(Special) Following the recent attack by Governor Colcuitt of Texas upon the administration speculation as to what the future may bring forth in politics has become active in the national capital Also, a weak ening is noted in the belief that President Wilson positively will be the democratic nominee in 1916 despite the dictum: If the administration succeeds he is entitled to it, and if 1t fails he must take it and be the goat
 Not even reports that Secretary Bryan is to resign in March, nor that Secretary Garrison will run for Senator Martine's s seat, nor that Postmaster General Burle- son has his eye cooked on Senator Gull berson's chair have diverted attention from the White House and presidential possibilities. Where does President Will son stand with the people? is the ques- ton at issue.
 First and foremost it may be said that the President feels he is losing his orig inal hold on the people and that they arc getting away from him." He is pug zled over the reason, and his last mes sage to Congress is accepted by many as an appeal to the masses whom he believes to be cooling in their admiration.
 Next. the exemption of the President from the criticism directed against the democratic party by it's opponents is by no means as general as 1t was up to a month or six weeks ago, and sharp shafts are flying in his direction. Among demo- cratic members of Congress any reflec- m ha of ha hitherto have been closely guarded and have been voiced only in strictest confi- dence; now, a spirit of independence seems spI eading and some members in both chambers speak their minds freely.
 The reason for this change may be stated baldly in this wise: From the time he became candidate for the presidency, Woodrow Wilson was idealzed by the peo- ple-that is, they made him the concrete personification of their ideal President. First. he was not a practical politi- cian;" further, he had risen to places of political preferment from the ranks of the people: he had fought and beaten machines and "bosses;'' he had com pelled popular legislation while governor of New Jersey; he was stamped as an ''anti-boSs' candidate in the democratic conventions; he was truly "a gentleman and scholar" and finally he promised the people relief from many oppressive evils.
 So, the people idealized Wilson and have clung to their ideal.
 Now. not only the President, but virtu- ally every astute observer, believes the people are getting away from him" It is hard for individual to lose faith in his ideal. 1t is approximately harder for the masses; they dislike to think they have been mistaken, so their disappoint- ment verges on bitterness when they be- gin to believe they have been deceived in their judgment.
 Probably the thing that has hurt Will son most among the people is his aloofness and frigidity. There is nothing magnetic about him, as there was about Taft and Roosevelt. His only friend is Dr. Cray son, his medical advisor; he remains wrapped in a blanket of seclusion and stands alone on a pinnacle Only once has he unbended,. when at the National Press club he tried to convince the peo- pie that he longed to be "hail fellow well met. and for a moment succeeded. But the moment he left the press club he retired into his shell and never since has emerged.
 The best type of candidate for 1916 will be good mixer" The people will vel come a candidate whom they can call Tom Dick or Harry" and at whom they can poke pleasantries without feel 1nS guilty in their hearts of lese majeste. They want an ideal man, but they want l their, idol to show at least few toes of clay.