Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-05-04
Feverish Efforts of the
Administration to
Perpetuate Itself
CONGRESS UNDER SPELL
OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Republicans Have Their Problem
in Surplus of Good Material
With Them Everything
Awaits the Chicago Conyen-
tiOn.

Washington, D. c., May (SpeciaD-
Standing out conspicuously in the pro-
ceedings of this tumultuous Democratic
are the feverish efforts
of the administration to perpetuate it
self. Although this branch of activity
is conducted quietly and without any
blowing of trumpets, it is none the
less evident that President Wilson
earnestly desires a reelection. All the
talk about his not wishing another
term and about his being ready, if his
nationwide constituency of Democrats
did not care to do as he directed, to
step aside and let somebody else run
was-well, just plain talk and moth
ing else.
The present day energies of the ad-
at Washington are being
largely directed with a view to getting
the case into the best possible shape
for the campaign. Little can be COM
pleted, as far as the big things are con-
cerned, before the June conventions.
The preparedness bills. for example,
cannot be fully written but Democratic
friends of the President have been
jamming to get enough done so that
they could go before the convention
and exclaim: I'VE have done this!"
1t will be difficult to round Congress
up and rein it in till late in the sum-
mer. because of this great political ac-
tivity Just as soon as the national
have nominated, it is easy
to foresee that Democrats will be
straining every nerve to obtain cam
paign advantage This election means
a lot to the party fortunes. One has
to go back to the time of Andrew
Jackson to find when one Democratic
administration Immediately succeeded
another Democratic administration at
Washington. Now if Woodrow Wilson
could succeed himself in the White
House the goose would honk very high
indeed for the old Democratic party.
Republicans in Congress are looking
on this kind of development with
They regard the situa-
ton as entirely satisfactory to them
and as soon as the Chicago convention
has nominated, formed a platform and
the present minority party
will be ready for the fireworks. If
want to bestir themselves
and go through the motions of try
ing to get another term for their Presi-
dent, Republicans are ready to meet all
the exigencies Of such struggle. The
leaders in Congress are not
deluding themselves with the idea that
they can win the next presidency with
out fighting hard for it but they have
no doubt whatever about the eventuali-
ties.
The Republican Problem.
The next important step for Repub-
licans, however, is the chrystalization
Of party sentiment in the nomination.
It is only a month now before that will
be effected. The Democratic nominee
is now known; the Republican nominee
remains to be selected from a list of
highly capable candidates. 1t will be
easier for the Republicans to give their
momentum, after the name
Of their candidate is known and the
planks of the national platform have
been written. Then some of the en-
ergy that rival candidates are devot-
ing to their own political fortunes can
be directed to the main task Of carry
ing the country.
1t looks as though the Democrats
would try to force the fighting from the
very start. Their maneuvers at pres
ent point that way. They have been
getting many things in readiness. In
.hese latter times. political campaigns
usually warm up only a month or two
before the voing. Normally one would
expect the presidential canvass to start
n earnest shortly after the election
n Maine. But the prospects are that
Democrats and Republicans will be
,lashing spears on shields considerably
n advance Of the Maine election this
year.
With the diversions of the political
it will be increasingly diff
icult to concentrate attention upon
Congress. 1t is automatic that Con-
,ress to do its best work and its most
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