The Republican journal., 1915-01-07
THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION.


Governor CoIquitt of Texas, who is a
Democrat, of course, severely criticises
the Wilson administration, and so far as
conditions on the Mexican border are
concerned must be accepted as compe-
tent authority. His statement as to the
effect of the administration tariff law
in the South is based on personal knowl-
edge. and in characterizing the foreign
policy of the President as ''imbecile" he
voices the sentiment of many, north as
well as SOUTH While he expresses him.
selfin very vigorous terms we find the con-
sentative North American, Philadelphia
newspaper, giving utterance to like SEN
timents and opinions. The North Ameri-
can "admits having been very strongly
disposed toward President Wilson at the
beginning of his term" but now recog-
nizes the belief of a great majority of
the American people that Democratic
rule inevitably leads to business depres-
sion while Republican rule insures ma
terial welfare for the people, and says
that, mo matter how sharply observers
may differ as to the justice or logic of this
centuated by the experience of the last
two years." AS from the very begin
ming of his term President Wilson has
exercised such complete domination over
his party that he has been at all times
the final arbiter, whether on broad ques-
tons of policy or the actual details of adj
ministration and legislation, the North
American considers it quite fair to lay
upon him the responsibility for the party
record in Congress and elsewhere. More
plainly, and briefly stated, President Will
son has compelled Congress to do his will
even against its better judgment. The
North American gives the trainers of the
Wilson Underwood tariff bill credit for
honesty of intention, but says it was
framed'b by log-rolling methods and pass
ediby men ignorant of the effect it would
have upon business. for the good reason
that they had no trustworthy, scientific
data onthe subject. "And further: "While
approving this make-shift measure, Pres
ident Wilson peremptorily rejected the
idea of creating non partisan tariff COM,
mission, whereby he did more to unsettle
business and discourage industry than he
could have done by any other single act"
President Wilson's policy toward the
control of big business the North Ameri-
can regards as equally hurtful to his
party and the country" And of the
new currency law it says that while it is
VASTLY better than the old one, in that
it precludes the possibility of manu-
featured panic, its surrender of the con-
troll of credit to the banks has left I'M
protected the small business man, whose
chief difficulty is to obtain the credit to
which he is justly entitled. On the
whole, therefore, the record is such as
to increase the prevalent belief that the
Democratic party is incapable of pro-
noting conditions that make for bust
ness prosperity" The discomfort of the
farmer is also recognized. The admins
tration has taken the tariff protection
off his products, and he knows that
when the war prices fail he will be at
the mercy of imports from Canada and
the Argentine He has noted also that
the president has favored horizontal
increase in freight rates, regardless of
the facts upon which alone the Inter-
state Commerce Commission is empow-
cred to act. While people generally
have given President Wilson credit for
honesty of purpose, though somewhat
egotisticaI in his assumption of superior
knowledge, the North American says of
him:
Another adverse influence for the
Democratic party-psychologica per-
haps, but very reals President Will
son s habit of announcing great accom-
plishments, in resounding phrases with
out any substantial record of perform
ance to justify his claims. The people
do not forget the grandiloquent procla
nations that business has been set
free,' when nothing had been done;
that the tariff question had been settled,
when it was more hopelessly unsettled
than ever before; that credit had been
liberated from thralldom, when the
banks were more completely in control.
They have become tired of the eloquent
advocacy Of popular measures, which
they find evaporates in words.
Extremes meet! The fiery, impetu-
GUS southerner and the conservative
Northerner agree as to the failure in all
respects of the Wilson administration
and the assurance of Democratic defeat
in 1916. Roosevelt is, of course, among
the administration critics, but what he
says has very little weight nowadays
and need not be considered.
Gov-elect Curtis will be inaugurated at
Augusta today and there is naturally
much speculation as to what he will say
in his address, and particularly as to pro-
hibition. The Portland correspondent of
n