Evening journal., 1915-03-06

The Congress which ends, subject
TO manipulation of the clock, at l2
noon today is likely long to keep
"the record" for perpetuity OF session
and multitudinous volume OF speech.
In the main, il has been. so far as
the Democratic majority in it is con
cerned. tho register and echo of the
commanding will in the White House.
With respect to the few and self
sacrificing original Democratic talents
in &C. the greatest and the most toll
Grant of which goes with Oscar Tn
derwood to the Senate. 1t would De
time lost to review the work of the
Sixty-Third Congress as its own. One
absorbing personality has with all
good and honorable intention merged
the Legislative in the executive. A
strong character. stronger by its very
narrowness. absorbed, or seemed to
absorb, tworthirds of the functions
of the Federal Government and the
whole Democratic party.
Yet the most monopolistic genius
can derange only for a time the or
dorly procession of political thought
and action. The Democracy, meek
after a long exile, and longing unut-
terably for the fleshpots, could not
surrender permanently that individu-
alistic and independent attitude. that
local and uncentralized freedom Of
thought which through many absurd
and sudden surrenders, borrowings
and reversals. still maintains. even
through its late populistic and so7
cialistic backsliding, something Of the
old Jeffersonian tang. A people or a
party blindly submissive to a chief,
however admirable. contradicts the
sound instincts and long traditions of
the Democratic party. which through
a thousand errors and even II it sur
renders, or seems to surrender, to pa
ternalistic theories, its fated oppo-
! site. keeps its hold. If II is to keep it,
upon the people solely by being the
voice Of the many.
Let us praise. then, for well they
merit praise for momentous public
service. the seven Democratic Sena-
tors who resisted the order from the
/ White Hose to pass the ship pur-
chase bill. so sinister in its potencies
economically so unsound and so abb
solutely undemocratic. Let us praise
likewise every Democratic Senator
and Representative who has dared tc
assert the just constitutional func-
ton of his post against the steady
monopolistic thirst of power at tbs
other end of the Avenue. These
United States are supposed to be gov
erned according to the Constitution
and not the desires, however beneh'
cent of any man or superman.
Mr.. Wilson's volition, exertec
through this Congress, and occasion
ally against the will of that body. fol
the last two years to be regarded as
a sort of old French parliament, ex'
isiing to register edicts, has done
considerable of good and much tha
? is doubtful The Federal Reserve ac
so exclusive Democratic memorial
by the way. is perhaps its or his bes
achievement So far as politics ant
the most parochial brand of politics
can be kent out of its administration
IL promises to be fruitful. Mr.. VIII
sons veto of the immigration bill
will always be an honor to him. s.
will his insistence on the nationa
faith as TO Panama tolls.
But where was his fine courag
when he had 70 approve or disapprov
ambiguous exemption Of association
OF farmers and labOrers which tn
fourth branch of the Federal Gov
ernment. the Hon. Samuel Gomper'
struck into the Clayton act?
AS to his tariff. which popularl
bears Mr.. Underwoods name, tn
revenues and the manufacturers Civ
sufficient testimony
As to men whom he regarded ftte
to do the work Of the all regulatin
Trade Commission, there is no nee
to speak. To business men they seer
strange officers under the New Cor