Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-16

~ CGAAC1L udS let II NC AAOna
directly to the country that he con-
siders the Democratic declaration
against subsidies in general, based as
it is on lang-cherished Democratic
principles, should take rank of the
plank in the Baltimore platform which
declares for tolls exemption. There
have been few such evidences of in
dignation in the White House recently
as the resentment shown by the presi-
dent when he inIimated that the de-
sires Of certain men, Republican, Pro-
gressives and some Democrats, to as
sail the administration had outweighed
their judgment in matters which Mr.
Wilson thinks are connected with the
national honor and the peoples duty.
First Breach of Harmony.
In the heat Of things in congress
over this matter, partisans in Wash
ington have seen a disruption Of the
Democratic party, a discrediting os
the president and a revolt of the voters
against the policy of repeal. 1t seems
likely that the partisans will cool of
after little and look at things in a
different light. As a matter of fact
from nOn-partAsdn viewpoint this re-
peal matter is the first real scrap the
Democrats have had since they came
into power and made their original
promise to preserve harmony at all
hazards. Republicans and Progress
ives here admit that the Democrats
have got along pretty well thus far.
Calmer politicians here say that a
! party ought to be able to withstand
the effects of one such a disagreement
as that which recently has arisen,
even though its accomplishments have
verged on the riotouss 1t was original
ly charged that Mr.. Wilson was in
favor of the adoption of the rule in the
house of representatives which would
limit debate on the repeal question to
20 hours, the so-called gag rule against
which there was SO great demonstra-
ton of disapproval There has been
| denial that Mr.. Wilson urged the gag
rule and there has been admission
only that he wanted a rule adopted
| which would prevent the discussion
running to such lengths that a vote
might be delayed for weeks.
The Democratic party is having it's
| differences on this repeal measure, but
the leaders of the party know that
they must stick together on trust
measures which are forthcoming for
| consideration in order that the Democ-
racy can go before the country in the
/ congressional elections with a fairly
clean record for harmony, coupled with
a record for accomplishment. Dispas-
sionate political observers in Wash
| ington do not seem honestly to believe
| that the present row in Democracy's
ranks necessarily is going to create
the disunion which leads to disaster.
Single Term Enough?
Two Republicans were. discussing
the attitude of President Wilson to-
ward the question Of the repeal of the
| tolls exemption clause of the Panama
canal act. One Of them said: Some
of the newspapers should print a car
toon showing Mr. Wilson standing on
the Democratic platform with the bank
| declaring for tolls exemption smashed
| into smithereens, while with a crow
bar he is attempting to rip up the 9TH
er plank which declares for a single
| term for the L4es. 9ncy.'
| The other Republican said in an
swer: do not make any mistake The
cartoon should show Woodrow Wilson
with hammer in his hand mailing
down more firmly in it's place the sin
| gle term plank"
| Here are represented two different
viewpoints of Mr.. Wilson's attitude to-
ward the presidential succession
| Some men in Washington are beginning
to believe more strongly than ever that
| Mr.. Wilson does not intend to seek
another nomination at the hands of
his party, and that he has been held
| to this decision not only by the word,
| ing Of the Democratic convention
| plank which pledged the candidates in
advance to the principle" of the sin.
| gle term proposition, but by his own
| personal inclination to retire to pri-
vate life after the completion of one
| term.
| CASTING Aside Ambition