Evening star., 1915-02-23
Democratic Leaders Wave
Aside for Present G. o. P.
Tariff-Hard Times Cry. 4
DOCTRINES UNHEARD NOW
MAY ARISE WITHIN YEAR
Wilson, Realizing Reasoning Of
Voters, Bends All Energies to
Restore Prosperity. j

President Wilson and prominent den-
ocrats generally are giving no concern
to the widely accepted view of repub-
licans that the presidential election
next year will be fought out on hard
times and the tariff. White House
officials, congressional and other CALL
ers of democratic faith at the execu-
tive Offices and cabinet officers ridi-
cuie the idea that any party or any
coterie Of men is able to fix IN nd
vance what the issues of next year VIII
be. The future may develop issues
that are now entirely unexpected. II is
declared, and as the next year is full
OF possibilities no person has fore-
sight enough to predict what will be
uppermost in the minds of the voters
OF the United States.
Fair minded democrats are inclined
to admit that II times do not get more
prosperous before the presidential CAM
paign of 1916 the republicans may be-
| able to pitch their whole fight on the
Underwood Simmons tariff bill and its
alleged shortcomings. foremost being
hard times. They are likewise inclined
voter would probably give little
| thought to the relations of the tariff
and hard times, II there is such rela-
tion; and would make up his mind
"
! ment that when the democrats are in
power hard times follow. and that
when the republicans are in there are
better times. That line of brief rea-
soning Is what the democrats fear more
than any other.
Wilson Realizes Voters Reasoning.
The President is said to realize more
keenly than any of the other demo-
| cratic leaders the clear-cut method OF
4 the general run of voters in reaching
| their conclusions when property or
| hard times are involved, and for that
| reason he has put forth every effort to
| restore confidence in the business
world. and start feeling that VIII
| lead to speedy Improvement in condi-
| tions. His belief and that of his ad-
mirers is that If times are greatly i'm
proved before November of 1916 tho
| American voter will give little thought
| to other questions that may be brought
| forward. He will determine whether
he can again trust the democrats or
| whether he wants to take chance on
| change in the face of returning pros
| perity.
| Although the democrats are struggling
to bring about an improvement IN ma
| terial conditions, assuming that these may
| be the principal issues of next year. they
| declare, AS already mentioned, that no
| living person now can safely foreshadoW
what the paramount questions may d.
l
| In the distance any number of questions
| pregnant with vital interest to the people
| 1t is recalled that in 1896, after some lean
democratic years, beginning with the
Cleveland administration, the republicans.
| with Mckinley as their nominee, tried
hard to make the fight on the tariff
and hard times. but had to meet Bryan's
/ issue of 16 to 1. Try as much as they
would. the republicans could not shift
the issue Hard times played big part
in the outcome, il is declared, but were
not the deciding factor in the minds OF
the voters when they went to the polls
| In November of that year.
War May Raise Issue.
Issues arising out of the European
war may become exceedingly impor-
tant, many democrats declare. and pro-
hibition may also take its place among
| the leading issues. The republicans
will seek, il is generally believed. 10
clear the decks of all questions except
the tariff. and educate the people TO the
| belief that most of the troubles arise
from the democratic policy OF low tariff
4 as against the republican doctrine OF
| protection. If that does become the
issue the democrats will charge that
the European war prevented a fair
trial Of the existing tariff law and that
II the law ought to be given another tour
years before being condemned.