Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-15
Presidents Prestige Declared
to Have Suffered Since Con-
gress, Convened.
NO LONGER LOOKED UPON
AS SURE OF REELECTION
Present Weakness Attributed to
Failure to Dominate Congress,
as at Previous Sessions.

NEW YORK, January 14.-There has
been an ebb in President Wilson's popu-
larity in New York. He is still strong.
far stronger than his party. but no one
now talks Of the hopelessness of electing
whatever republican candidate may be
nominated to oppose him.
! The tide began ebbng soon after the
topening of Congress. That is the opinion
of observers who know local conditions
1t is still ebbing. There is pretty general
agreement on this point. Yet this does
mot mean that 1t may not come up again,
not In flood of popularity such that
of few months ago. but strong enough
to carry the fotsam of voters who some
times. by floating along the current in a
mass, determine national elections
Rather a Loss of Prestige.
| Possibly it would be more correct to
say that there has been a loss Of the
Presidents prestige rather than an ebb
in his popularity. The cause is on every
ones tongue 1t is his failure to control
Congress. and to secure its prompt ratl-
fication of the administrations prepared
ness program The program was not suf-
f1ciently militaristic for what seems to be
a large majority of New Workers. but
! tioS Wcic WIlllHS tO take IL as me nest
that could be had. and to give the Presi-
dent credit for his efforts
| Expectations were so high that even a
| temporary check to the program causes
Washington of discouraging prospects for
| legislation accentuate this feeling. The
tendency to hold the President respon-
s1ble is smashed. His success in
| handling his party In the last Congress
| had created sort of a myth.
Severe in Their Judgment.
| When the myth disappears the dispo-
sition of its sponsors is to be unduly Sc
we're In their judgment of the occupant
of the White House because he is only
| flesh and blood executive, and is subject
to the limitations Of executive power.
Every President has had to go through
| the same experience, but President Will
son suffers more than his predecessors
because their difficulties usually began
! with their taking Office, and there was
| no opportunity to develop the legend of
superhuman influence in dealing with
Congress.
Another reason for the ebb in New
York sentiment Is the chronic one Of in
| ability to realize that the rest of the
country is not influenced by the sea board
view 1t seems Impossible for the ordi-
nary New Yorker to understand this
| Sometimes he is in line with the rest
Of the country and he takes it that the
rest OF the country is in line with him.
In the present emergency he has no
patience with democratic congressman
| from other sections. but his spleen is
vented on the President because the
| White House does not CONTROL them
| No allowance is made for those con-
F., gressmen having taken their cue from
| the White House year ago that pre-
| paredness was an academic question
| Nor is there any readiness to recognize
| that the matter of revenue enters into
q nd hat h1r
| may be embarrassed to the point of
defeat by the imposition of additional
| taxes even for purposes of national
| defense.
| Willing to Pay the Bill.
On this matter justice must be done
| New York. Intmations that the bulk
| of the expense viii be met by increas-
| ing the income tax. by imposing
| federal Inheritance tax and by other
| measures which will bear heavily on
| the seaboard section of the country
| are received cheerfully. The feeling
| for national defense meas sures is gem
| uine and Ieep in this community and
it is willing to pay rather more than
| its share of the bill.
| The shodaw of Mr.. Bryan also is
darkening the presidential prertige
! This is another instance of the provin-
cial view of national affairs.
The New York public is confused on
| this matter. Last summer it was led
to believe that Mr.. Bryan, by retiring
from the ca binet in the manner he did
had lost all his influence. and there
after would be of no consequence
politically. Now it is told that Bryan's
| ma achinations" have caused the block
ing of the preparedness campaign and
an influence is attributed to him great
| er than he most likely has exerted But
the New York public doesn't under
stand this and wonders how Bryan has
| come back when the metropolitan
press had disposed Of him for good 1t
also wonders whether, after all. some
| of the Presidents success in controlling
Congress may not have been due to
Bryan's presence in the ca binet.
Politicians Not Deceived.
The democratic politicians in New
York were not deceived about Bryan
From the day of his resignation they
have been seriously concerned over
| his attitude in the national campaign.
and now they are more concerned than
| ever. Having had experience of his
shrewdness. they did not expect him to
make a personal attack on the Presi-
dent. They see a further illustration
! of this skill in selecting the issue
| on which to wage the battle. 1t is
fully recognized that whatever meas
ure of preparedness may be passed
| by Congress will be due to republicans
and that Mr.. Bryan can sfford to lose
| by that means, since 1t will leave the
| democratic party divided. and the
| President will not be credited with a
| victory.
| While the congressional situation re-
| ga arding preparedness has lessened the
| Presidents prestige and is depressing
| for the democrats, there is cheer for
| them in the business situation. The
| saturation of war prosperity is over,
but the opinion is unanimous that the
| general good times will continue till
| .fter Noyemher. Peace and nrnsneritu