The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM our Regular correspondents. ]

unless there Is return OF prosperity
within the next twelve months there
will not be the slightest chance for
democratic victory In 1916. This is
frankly admitted by democratic lead
ers in private conversation and the
president himself is fully alive TO the
situation. Recent elections have en-
phasized this fact and the spokesmen
for the administration have begun \
campaign to convince the country that
prosperity is already here. The secre.
tary of commerce has issued several
statements showing the increased
orders in certain industries, without.
however. supplying details showing
how many OF these orders We're direct
a, ly due to the war in Europe. The
bank examiners issued another state
ment tending to prove that the whole
country is prosperous. Cabinet OF
ficers are alternating In daily inter-
views to prove that depression has dts
appeared and that prosperity prevails.
This campaign Is humorous because
there Is nothing so obvious as real
prosperity, nothing that requires less
proof. The fact that the country has
to be officially advised of its advent
and impressed with its actually shows
the slim foundation for the assurances
which are being given to the country
and also the desperate desire of the
administration to invoke this absolute
" necessary conservator of the DEM
ocratic rule. 1t is well understood
rule among business men that ecou-
omic laws are inexorable and cannot
be changed by artificial methods.
Prosperity cannot be created by proc
lamation nor can its presence be ds-
MED when 1t actually exists. The adj
ministration cannot hope to convince
"a business man that he Is prosperous
when his trial balance shows loss.
Prosperity for political purposes can
not be created, it must develop natur-
ally. The democrats are concerned
with its slow development and afraid
that it may arrive too late. Hence the
vigorous putting OF the slender fama
of improving conditions.
Daniels Worried-There is intense
anxiety In the Office of the secretary Of
the navy these days. 1t is grave!y
feared that the raising Of the SUBJ
marine. the F-4. which sank in the
harbor OF Honolulu with all on board,
will reveal conditions which will pnt
the blame for that disaster squarely
up to secretary Daniels. Command
er Stirling frankly told the naval
committee of the house OF the unsaie
condition of a number of the sub
marines under his command, and he
was, on December last, severely re-
buked for his truthful testimony by
Mr.. Daniels. Representative Gardner
OF Massachusetts, has publicly charg-
ed Secretary Daniels with responsible
I;ty for the disaster and there are
many others who will not be slow to
indfct the secretary if their suspic-
Ions that his policy was responsible
are verified. Another officer who told
the truth with entire frankness when
be appeared before the naval COM
mittee was Rear Admiral Bradley A.
Fiske, and he has just been made to
walk the plank, metaphorically speak
ing, by the indignant secretary.
Admiral Fiske has been one of the
chief aids of the secretary and has
been regarded, by all competent to
Judge. as an exceedingly able admin-
istrator OF that ONCE, but he incurred
the displeasure OF Mr.. Daniels because,
when examined ana cross examined
by members OF the naval committee.
he told them precisely what the con-
dition OF the navy was and how unpre-
pared for war. So he has now suffe--
ed the penalty.