New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-04

dent pointed with so much pride. Blum
ders in foreign policy-even the Mexi-
can suddenly seemed trivial
and unimportant The scene in Con-
gress was like that in a powder maya
zine threatened by FIRE.
Senators and Representatives saw
themselves confronted with an issue
that might well settle the whole cam
paign. They had never seen question
that or both sides had such seemingly
Hmitless possibilities IN votes 20 be
cast either for or against them. IN the
one hand there were all the elements
OF labor, capricious and uncertain IN
their attitude at best; on the other
were the representatives of capital. not
merely in its biggest forms. but run
ming down through every business man
and every shopkeeper dependent upon
employees. How 10 prevent this cam
paign from becoming a clearcU. issue
between the two was an even greater
problem before Congress than how 20
prevent the strike.
Pointing Real Issue.
The action of the Senate Republi-
cans in voting against the bill. the
speeches Of men like Senator's Borah
and Cummins, and even while the
President was cXtolling the past. the
Capitol felt pointed the way 20 the
real issue Of the campaign That
many OF the Democrats sensed it too
could be gathered from their speeches
and their efforts 70 dodge responsi-
bihty. Senator Clarke. who presided
was so nervous that he refused 10
sign the bill after IL had passed. And
under the taunts of Senators Calm
ger and Borah the majority was
plainly FESTIVE
Before this situation. therefore. even
Republicans took little interest in
criticising the Presidents speech or
taking issue with him on its contents
Bes ides, they declared that they had
grown used 70 President Wilson'S
presumption OF Republican doctrine or
Republican issues and claiming them
as the exclusive property OF the
Democrats. They had corrected him
so many times that it had grown tire
some.
Tariff Commission Not New.
Republicans were particularly
amused by the Presidents extravagant
praise OF the reserve bank act and
Tariff Commission. The groundwork
for the former had been prepared
after an exhaustive study by the Aid
rich commission long before the
Democrats came into power. A
tariff commission had been created
under President Taft. only 70 be
legislated out OF existence in the Will
son administration. That the Presi-
dent should claim credit for its crea-
tion they tax. as one Of the ironies of
politics.
The Presidents praise for the Under
wood tariff is also very diverting for
those who have been following the
Democrats attempt 10 whip a revenue
bill into shape in Congress. Even the
Democrats are having diticult time 10
disguise the failure OF that measure, as
is evidenced by the wholesale rcadjust-
ment of tariff schedules in the new bill.
The Special interests" which the
President sought 10 make the exclusive
property Of the Republicans. in the way
of cotton and tobacco, are coming in
for as careful consideration as was
ever received by famous Schedule n
Bond Issue Not Mentioned.
But what the Republicans would
have preferred was for the President
TO glance at the financial condition Of
the Treasury and the "jokers" con-
tanned in the army and navy bills. They
are particularly disappointed that he
did not mention the forthcoming bond
issue of 1886, 900 to pay for the
Mexican fssco and the failure 10 in
crease the army 10 the dimensions pre-
scribed by the Hay bill. But since the
President neglected these, Republics1
still feel that they have a duty to