The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25

between Mr.. Underwood and the President
is absurd. 1t is equally absurd to say
that the leadership of Mr. Underwood in
the House is impaired. The sentiment in
the House is for adjournment as soon as
possible, and in taking up the question
with the President the House leader was
rejecting that sentiment with which he
was in accord
The hoped for split in the democratic
party will not occur over adjournment
II dld not occur over canal tolls, as much
as the republican papers declared that it
would. Both parties were badly split over
canal tolls, thus removing the partisan
aspect of the legislation. A majority of
the democrats followed the President and
majority of the republicans were
against him. but without the republican
support of Root and Lodge the measure
would not have passed the Senate. and
In the House the President had many re-
publican supporters Even the bull moose
party was divided on the issue.
Will Stick by President
The party leaders have stuck to the
President, and kept down a split. They
will continue to do So If the President
insists upon action on trust bills, 1t is
more than likely he will get 1t before
Congress adjourns in spite of the Z fact
that the judgment of the leaders in Con-
gress adjourns In spite of the fact that
the judgment of the leaders in Congress
Is that 1t would be better to go home and
look after the next House and Senate and
attend to the trust bills in the fall after
mature elaboration by the committees
which are now formulating them.
The President in some way has estab-
lfshed the reputation throughout the
country a boss who rules Congress
with an iron hand. The popular impress
sion is that he has forced Congress to do
his bidding by skillfully keeping public
sentiment at his back. AS a matter of
fact Congress has cheerfully co-operated
with the President. Over anxiety upon
the part of the leaders that the predicted
rebellion of the rank and file in the
House and Senate would materialize and
disrupt the party organization and estab-
lish the prophecy of the republicans that
the party could not control ITSELF as a
fact, has helped to create this impression
It is erroneous, and the President with
out the hearty cooperation of his party,
and particularly the leaders could not
have successfully covered the territory
in legislation that has been done. As in
the case of canal tolls when the leaders
disa greed with the President they told
him so, but they have not attempted in
any case to organize opposition against
him, and thus bring on fight. They did
not in the tolls fight, and they will not
in the question of adjournment.
The President and the party are in per-
feet harmony on the question of trust leg
islation. The only difference is that of
the feasibility of attempting to pass this
legislation now or wait until the next ses-
sion If trust legislation is taken up by
the Senate, no one hopes that Congress
can adjourn before September. In the
Senate there is bound to be a prolonged
and tedious fight over the exemption Of
organized labor from any and all prosecu-
ton under the trust laws, which is taken
by many as the most vicious of class
legislation.