Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-05
REVOLUTION AT THE POLLS
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Waldo and was doing what he could
to prevent the heavy hand of law be-
ing laid upon his constituents. They
did not want to have to pay the fine.
Learned experts went into the case
carefully and, much to the relief of
certain Waldo county citizens. dis
covered that the association was not
taxable at all under the income tax
law. 1t is not money making insti-
tuition and was exempt. But that
was not the end. The Honesty
Grange association of Morrill, now
wants the money back and Senator
Burleigh is trying to get 1t for them.
Another matter members of the
Maine delegation in Congress have
been working over is the closing of
Rockport. Maine, as port of entry.
The Treasury Department has decided
II must close and the order has been
issued. But the people of RockpoTt
have certainly put in lusty protest.
Those little customs offices all along
the Maine coast have become tnstitu-
tons among the local people and there
is tremendous reluctance to yielding
any of them. The equipment of the
Rockport office is to go to Rockland.
Badly scared Democrats abound at
the present juncture in Washington.
They talk Of little with one another
except their fears that their admins
tration is topping, as viewed by opin-
ion throughout the land Demoraliza-
ton stalks in their ranks. The House
leaders are convinced that the party is
rapidly going to the bowwows unless
some way can be found to check the
toboggan progress. Senate leaders
concur in that lugubrious opinion.
The White House has been standing
firmly, indeed is standing firmly but
nevertheless has not been obuvious to
the pitiful conversations that senators
and representatives are bringing there.
Republican criticism of the way
things have been going has been get
! ting so deeply rooted, Democrats fear
revolution at the polls in November.
They have been living in an atmos-
phere of assurance. The House was
SO overwhelmingly Democratic GER
tainly 1t could not be overturned at
| the next election. The huge majority
might be cut down but that would be
! something of an advantage. The
Senate majority is lean, but statisti-
clans galore had figured and concluded
that II could not be obliterated, at
| least. before 1916. The only danger
these Democrats could see was in
/ political revolution. Not until very
recent times could they see the posi-
| bilitv of such a revolution.
! Now. in their auakings for the fu-
ture. the Democratic politicians at
Washington are asking whether the
party history of exactly 20 years ago
is to repeat itself.
It will be recalled that Grover
! Cleveland was elected in 1892 by
very large vote. Republicans who
got back to the House of Representa-
tiyes that year were only a handful
Matters ran along for couple or
wears. with much dissension and much
laundering, and in 1894 conditions
were actually reversed. There was
only a handful of Democratic repre-
sentatives in the 54th Congress and 1t
was Is years before Democrats got
control of that branch of Congress
| again.
Probably the situation is not quite
so black as the Democrats. taking
counsel of their fears. have been
painting it. But it has begun to look
ing back in 1914 and the Democratic
head men are beginning to work like
mad men to prevent 1t. One disad-
vantage with them is the crumblng of
their good organization. The Demo-
cratic House that stood SO solidly Tor
more than a year is dividing into Bit
ter factions. 1t becomes more anu
moro evident that Speaker Clark is
hn
conditions. He does not approve OF
the Presidents policies and Is taxing
opportunity now and then in a mild
way to demonstrate IT. He mas ois-
| avowed any intention OF being a
presidential candidate in 1916 put
there are Democrats who oplne that
the Speaker may not have the maj
say as to the nomination of Mr.. VIII
son for another term two years from
now. Majority leader Underwood is
"layin' low" like Brer Rabbit, these
spring days and saying mighty little
He need not mix up in House quarreis'
for he goes soon to the Senate Tor
six wears term. But in many respects
he is in accord with the Speaker rath-
err than with the President. Ihus
far. to be sure, the House has re-
sponded to the Presidents requests
for legislation but the sense OF party
LOYALTY there has been much strained
in carrying out the wishes of the
White House. There Is strong
Democratic leadership in the House,
as such matters are judged 1t has
generally stood with the President,
save in the case of canal tolls exemp-
tion. But the rank and file of the
representatives has 'gone with the
President out of the knowledge thai
Democrats would have hard time
getting e-elected If they went on rec
ord against Mr.. Wilson.
The situation in the Senate Is some
what different There is next to nc
Democratic leadership there. Some
Democrats are accounted nominal
leaders in the upper legislative
branch" but they have little follow
ing. There is no confidence in the
chosen leaders Senators are nomi-
nally much more independent than