Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-17
Who Wants the Ship Purchase Bill

ing much Of the whine that the hli-
busterers are forcing this undesirable
contingency upon the President, the
lawmakers and the people. They
NOPE, and they point to those in &C
tive opposition TO the ship purchase
bill. because now there is insufficient
time 10 pass the appropriation bills.
The substance Of the whole matter
lies in the fact that it is all up to-
the President. He can call an extra
session il he will. but that threat has
not frightened the honest opponents
Of the child Of his one-trackss mind,
into tamely submitting TO his de-
nand The Presidents government:
ownership folly is costing him the
loyal support Of many honest men.
II he stubbornly insists upon calling
an extra session, it will cost him
more.
Why should President Wilson in
fliet the cost and inconvenience of an
extra session upon the country? There
is 10 demand from the country for his
Pet scheme. No one wants this ship
purchase bill pushed through. but
Woodrow Wilson. If an extra session
is called it vii. be the personal af-
fair OF the President. II is nor !
partisan measure. Democracy does
not demand it. Some Of the ablest
strongest opponents. The Democratic
press which has desired to follow and
support the President. are turning
away from it. II is becoming g parry
bugbear. Democratic politicians are
becoming panic-stricken because OF
its sure results to the party.
An extra session Of Congress, called
because Of the Presidents insistencc
for an authorization TO purchase, own
and operate merchant marine, up 70
an hour when the supply bills cannot
be passed, spells sure disaster for
Democracy. II will be as fatal as was
President Tafts reciprocity deter
r:ination. Here is what one strong
Democratic paper, the Boston Post.
says Of it:
In a recent speech before the Eco
nomic Club of New York, Secretary OF
the Treasury McAdoo, who is now the
chief spokesman for the admicistra-
tons ship purchase bill, expressed
regret that the same should have be-
come a partisan measure
The secretary is in error; the ship
ping bill is not a partisan measure :
outside Of Congress. We find it OPP
posed in many parts Of the country
by newspapers of all shades Of politi-
cal belief likewise by men and COM
mercial BODIES regardless Of part?
claims. Here in Boston Democrats
Of prominence join with Republicans
in protesting it.
In Washington the measure seems
10 have become very much a partisan
one. But who made it sou
a near chaos reigns in Democratic
management at the Capitol. It could
more nearly be described as mis-
management. The party has faile,i
absolutely to measure up to require
ments for the session Of Congress.
The work that should have been done
has been neglected. This neglect has
gone SO far that Speaker Clark, Ma
jority Leader Underwood, and other
head men say the work can not now
be done as it ought to be, and that Al
extra session of Congress must he
called to attend to it. Only two weeks
remain before this session expires by
constitutional limit.
Business throughout the country
wants rest from Congress. II there
had been attention to the work Of the
session. business could have had this
rest and the chances of prosperity re-
turning would have increased. But
the President chose to inject govern
ment ownership of merchant marine
into the Senate as an issue, when
there was no time for it and when
many men Of his own party were abb
solutely against him. The outcome
has been the liveliest Democratic
squabble since days when the Demo-
cratic Senate fell out with Grover
CleTeland during the first half Of h:s
secoI.d term.
The squally February days now
passing in procession at Washington.
appear to be only beginning. The
outlook is robust for some Of the
iustiest Democratic wrangling in the
next Congress that has been seen for
a generation. House Democrats have
already designated Representative
Claude Kitchin, as chairman Of the
new Ways and Means Committee.
which means he will be floor leader Of
the majority. He should be the
Democrat, whom President Wilson