New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-04
The Country's Rebuke to the
Wilson Administration.


The Wilson Administration stands condemned
nv public opinion. Even the distractions Of great
world war did not prevent the voters Of This coun
try from expressing their emphatic dsspprovai
OF its acts and policies. 1t was only natural that
an international catastrophe of unprecedented pro-
portions like the plunging of three continents into
war should absorb public attention here for the
moment, since we have had 10 suffer with the rest
Of the world by the prostration Of credit and the
interruption Of commerce.
There was time when it seemed as If the war
might serve as a mantle Of charity covering the
failures of the Administration. It is the last blow
whose sting remains keenest in the consciousness,
and the aggravations TO our business troubles
caused by the war almost promised TO overshadow
in the thoughts Of the voters the original hard
ships due TO the unwise leadership and legislation
at Washington
Few people doubted last June what the country
would say when it got its first chance to register
an opinion on the acts Of a Democratic President
and a Democratic Congress. Then the war came
along as providental Intervention in Mr.. Wilson's
favor and seemed to take the edge off the purpose
of the voters 10 demand an immediate reckoning
1t did help in two ways TO cover up the Admins
tration's blundors-
For one thing. It suspended the effects Of the
reductions in tariff rates made in the Underwood
law. The great manufacturing countries Of Europe
having ceased to send manufactures here our own
producers were relieved from the pressure Of for
eign competition. Protective tariff conditions were
restored automatically. the Underwood rates TO
the contrary notwithstanding. Again, the falling
off in the customs revenue gave Congress pretext
for passing an emergency war tax law, raising
s1oooooOOo, which just about Offset an increase
q, s1ooooooOo in annual expenditure due to
scandalous legislative extravaganza.
The elections show that the people have not
been duped into letting the Administration use the
war as cover for its sins Mr.. Wilson has been
Judged in this state and in most Of the other big
Industrial and commercial states on his record as
y disturber Of business and banisher Of pros
perity independently of the effects Of the Euro
pean conflict It was he who warred on business,
little as well as big, long before the European
fighters took It into their heads to do the sane
He is the original crusader against production at
normal speed and employment on a normal basis
His policies created the unrest from which the
country has suffered ever since it became known
two years ago that the Democratic party had been
restored to power IN ali the departments of the
government
Yesterdays elections were a popular verdict
against Mr. Wilson's attitude and achievements.
Instead of having a majority Of 149 over all in
the House Of Representatives and a plurality Of
100 over the straight Republican element there,
the Democratic party has apparently been reduced
70 minority In the Senate also the Republicans
have more than held their own Mr. Wadsworth's
splendid victory in this state won in the face
Of demand that New York should indorse the
Administration by eecting Mr. Gerard. In other
states there has been a similar swing away from
the destructive policies which for two years past
have controlled at washington.
At this writing it may be too early TO assert with
positiveness the passing Of Democratic control iD
the House. But it is clear that the country has
condemned the consequences of that control in an
absolutely conclusive manner.