Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-08


win be do1ed out in meagre amounts
far. from satisfactory to the people
back home.
Dreary times indeed are these for the
senators and representatives at WASH
ington. The saying holds true especially
Of Democrats. TOR they are the men OK
responsibility under the current regime.
Their constituents are expecting things
Of them. but gifts and favors seem to
have all been bestowed. Perhaps the
times Congressionaily will be better. q
year from now. But they may be worse.
That is why Democrats do not like at
all just now to contemplate the politi-
cal prospect. In fact they are the last
people in the United States to find any
satisfa ction in discussing the Wilson adj
n,inistration. 1t has come to this. after
months Of big doings. But the Demo-
discoura ging conditions vet.
There is much mid-winter discussion
Of presidential candidates That means
both Democratic and Republican. For
although the denomination Of Presid ent
Wilson by Democrats is a practical GER
tainty. whether or not he wants an
other term. there is an element in the
party that always has been hostile to
him. The Speaker Clark malcontents
form the nucleus OF this contingent.
". R. Hearst is largely back OF it. He
has had no recognition whatever from
this administration and is likely TO get
none. Consequently Hearst propaganda
for the undoing Of the President.
The latest Hearst insinuation vieled
as 10 It's origin, of course was that Pres
icent Wilson. worn and weary with the
annoTances. Of his great office, would not
be a candidate in 1915. but would step
aside that Speaker Clark might be the
unanimous nominee Of the Democratic
party This has been followed with
divers other suggestions and the anti
wilson boom has been assuming some
r1o-winter proportions Il makes peo,,a
around the White House offices scowI
out they d. not take the reports AZ all
seriously.
In Republican circles the outhurst Of
TAX Tor ex-Ambassador Herrick of Ohio
mas oWindled- Not but what Mr.. Her.
rlck may yet he in the Presidential run
ming If he desires to be. He ia fine
and able American and may vet land in
the White House Other prominent Re-
puphcans' however. will have a tryout
In sentiment. There has been recent
mention Of ex-Vice President Fairba nks
in Presidential capacity ..e is still
in the early COS and not too old to stand
the ordeal of a hard political campaign.
or course, whenever these names are
brought forward in the public prints
enemies begin to throw missiles but that
is part of the process by which the
strength of men for high position is de-
terinined
Senator John ". Weeks of Massa chu-
sets continues to have favorable men
ton for Presidential honors. although he
refuses to take these very seriously him
self The days when it was impract
Bile to select a President from New Eng
land may be Passing in some measure
New England is not as reliably Repubii-
can now as it used to be and that figures
npolitical calculations at national con-
ventions. If Senator Weeks boom should
attain any great proportions it would be
because of the attractive idea Of having
a big-brained business man and practical
legislator in charge of the government
Mr.. Weeks has been pre-eminently such
man.
A lot Of boomlets from the Middle
West may be expected till every avail
able Republican has been mentioned 1t
is long way Yet before Republicans
The convention will not assemble till q
year from next June or therea bouts.
Foreign relations have loomed large in
controversy ever since Mr. Wilson be-
came President of the United States
There was ard still is Mexico, with it's
heritage Of perplexities from the Taft
administration. And then there have
been the governmental worries anent the
war of the ten nations in Europe. These
foreign affairs have been attended with
thrilling episodes. that has made official
Washington take motive. Nothing, how
ever, has SO commanded attention here
as the note the President dispatched the
other day TO Ambassador Page at Lon
don. calling upon His Majestys govern
ment to relinquish the rigors OF search
of neutral cargoes on the Atlantic.
Of course anything that foreshadows
in the slightest breach in friendship be-
tween the United States and Great Bri-
tain commands attention at Washington.
Great Britain is the Closest friend we
have in the family of nations. The COM
munity of blood and language and years
of assiduous cultivation of friendly rela-
tons have brought this about. But DOW
erful protests have gone up against the
detention Of American ships on the high
seas by British cruisers and it remained
for the President to voice this feeling to
the authorities at London. He did it
with forcefulness. and withal a friend
lness that will make that cornmunica-
ito nfrom the state department one OF
the most notable papers of this admins
tration
Washington awaits the reply. II is
doubtful whether Britain ceases to
search and detain, but it is regarded as
very certain that more caution will be
exercised and American shippers viii be
put to less inconvenience. Tie excuse
for detention, OF course, is that NUM-
trons of war have been. Struggled to
Italy on the south and to Denmark. Hol-
land and other contiguous countries on
the north, finding ultimate destination IN
Germany. Northern Italy is peop,ed by
enterprising merchants, who have been