The Washington times., 1915-10-26
Success Of Legislative Program
Is Involved in Presidents
Domination Of II.
HIS PRESTIGE IS At STA'2
Democratic Leaders Declare
Situation Is Improving, and
Outlook Is Favorable.

How much influence will President
Wilson have with Congress In the COM
ing session.
Is the Presidents domination over the
members Of House and Senate In this
Congress going to be as great as In
tho last Congress?
These are questions common enough in
Washington at present. As members
Of Congress arrive for the session. and
they are beginning to come with greater
frequency. such questions become more
and more common.
It Is generally realized. bv both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. that the lesis-
lative outcome depends In large degree
on how far the President Is able to
dictate to Congress; on how rrndily
the White House. will proceed to do 1t.
May Weaken President.
Not only Is the Legislative outcome in
volved. but the outcome of the cam
paign next year may depend on the
success or failure of the President In
getting Congress to do his bidding. 1t
10 the view here that II there is strong
Democratic insurgency In Congress. and
the Administration organization falls
down" In the enactment Of the White
House legislative program. the prestig.
Of the President will suffer and he will
be weakened in 1916.
Senator Root recently predicted in an
interview that the Administrator ship
ping bill would be beaten In the House
by Democratic votes. He looks for
much Democratic insurgency-that is.
refusal to line up for Administration
measures.
On the other hand. Democratic lead
ers and soothsayers. who are In close
touch with the Administration declare
the situation Is Improving for the Presi-
great bulk Of his proposed legislation.
This. they say. is true. regardless OF
any attempts by William J. BSyan to
oppose the program to the limit and to
expose the Democratic party to the
menace of split.
Those who are convinced the Presi-
dent once more will dominate Congress
and whip II into line. cite two recent
'conversions" Of prominent Democrats
in support of thei, theory. TtS "sonvcr.
Kern and Congressman Hay. the one
Senate Democratic leader. the other
chairman of the House Military Com
mittee.
Insurgency To Be Difficult.
Senator Kern. who has always been
known as a Bryan man. after giving
out interviews in Indiana OF a kind that
was calculated to chill the Administra-
ton program, came on to Washington.
was called In by the President. and then
declared he would stand by the Presi-
dent Chairman Hay was looked on In
many quarters as the probably fatal
stumbling block to the Administration
army bill. Mr.. Hay was called to the
White House not once but twice and
then declared himself a hearty support
er Of the program.
Under the circumstances. there Is
undeniablv encouragement for the Ad-
ministration leaders. As a Bryan man.
Mr.. Kern might be expected to support
the Bryan program instead of the Nd
ministration program. But Mr.. hern
wants a reelection and he does not
dare alienato the Wilson Democrats in
Indiana. As for Mr.. Hay. he evidently
believes the Administration Is going to
win In tho House and he prefers to be
on the winning side.
What Is true OF the national defense
program probably will prove true Of a
tion legislative program Unless Demo-
Gratis of the House beat the merchant
marine bill. It is not likely to be beaten.
and II Is not going to be easy to pro-
mote enough Democratic insurgency to
head of this measure.