Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-07

Hearst in his many newspapers, how
ever. has attacked the President fierce
ly and it was noticeable that Speaker
Clark's son-in-law. Editor Thomson OF
the New Orleans Item after visit
recently 70 Washingto n devoted
whole broadside of his paper to the
Wilson Ignores Hearst
President Wilson has steadfastly ig-
nored William Randolph Hearst but he
has treated Speaker Clark with some
consideration. The President has fire.
quently asked the Speaker to the White
House for consultation. Nevertheless
the President, as the nation is coming
to know. lives very much unto hlm-
self. His personality. although one OF
courtesy seems to beget resentments.
Congress has numerous sore Democratic
toes and the possessors are unable to
forget about il. The President must
know this but with customary audac-
ity. when the mischief makers had come
to their boldest stroke. he turned upon
them in a demand that Congress vote
to stand by him or refuse to stand by
him.
Within certain bounds. it seems fair
that the President should keep Congress
acquainted on important matters of for
eign relations. Usually it has been that
senators of the foreign relations commit
tee and representatives of the foreign
relations committee should have on Its
membership roll the ablest senators. That
has generally been the fact. but the Dem
ocrats on that great committee in this
Congress are lamentably weak or disaf.
fected. The disaffected Democratic sena'
tors seem unable to put aside their petit!
prejudices. William j. Stone of Missou
ri, the chairman, is ordinarily an astute
man. But he is a politician rather thar
a diplomat and not quite the type oi
man to deal with intricate foreign aues
tions Benjamin F. Shively of Indiana
the second Democrat on the committee
and a man of considerable ability. is SICK
unto death and has not been in the Sen
ate more than two or three times this
session. The next man on the committee
list is James P. Clarke of Arkansas, per
haps the keenest and most profound Dem
ocrat in the Senate, but his nose is al
ways out Of Joint and he is an off OK.
Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock Of Nebraska ant
James A. O'Gorman of New York are
very capable men but they have beer
against the administration on hal
dozen important questions in the las
three years and are not big enough tt
stand forth now on a great patriot,
question Of supporting the President o
their own party and give him an un
German crisis.
Republicans of the foreign relation!
committee include some very experienced
men, like Senator Lodge of Massachu
ator Borah of Idaho and Senator Bran
degee of Connecticut. These are the mel
who have been saving the Democratic
party in Congress from itself. They hav
been the backbone of the situation ant
have gone far toward making a wobbl.
Congress face the music. They hav'
been absolutely for the President ant
have fought with tenacity against thu
movement, SO completely silly. to tie th
Presidents hands at a very critical juno
ture.
The aftermath promises to be very in
teresting. When the smoke Of the presen
congressional conflict has lifted and tn
debris has been cleared away, the Pres
ident. if he wins, will be under mucl
, obligation to the Republicans. To b.
sure, it has often been said that politlc
cease at the waters edge and conse
quently Republicans have only been doin,
their plain duty as sworn officials. Bu
Democrats have played politics with
subject that should have been entirel.
non-political, vented their spleen upon
President of their own party, and mad
spectacle of themselves which woul,
seem to warrant the country in ques
tioning whether they are competent t
govern.
No one knows the delicate situation
with Germany better than the President
This is simply because he and the secre
tary of state are about the only mel
who can we'll know all the aspects ant
| who can think on the problems with al
the facts before them. Many things car
not be told promiscuously in internationa
negotiations and more than can be vel
done in an ordinary law suit. But tn
Democrats of Congress do not seem Z
have learned this.