Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-02

The Presidents SWlHe diouh" e
loop" may not be for campaign puF-
noses. or to show himself to the people,
or to show his bride, but 1t U.s. uh-
doubtedly for some purpose. other-
Wise he would not have volunteered
4his lecture trip in the midst OF ses-
sion of Congress that should be the
mos. important Of a generation. II
this speaking tour across the country
is not expected to be OF personal Vaiue
to the President, why has he lett the
canjtal At a time when foreign analrs
,ro At q stage as critical as any in his
incumbency?
Let us guess that the President has
gone forth to enlist the aid Of the peo-
pie in handling Congress. President
Wilson has been making a desperate
effort to induce Congress to speed up
its legislative program, thus Tar Win
comparatively little success.
Mr. Wilson can exert no such lnfu-
ence over the saith Congress as he did
over the s3rd. That Congress came into
existence just after Mr.. Wilson was in
augurated and when all of the political
Offices, popularity known as pie were
still to be distributed. Under those
circumstances no Democratic member
cared to incur the enmity of the Presl-
dent by opposing his slightest wish.
Mr.. Wilson failed utterly to take adj
vantage Of that situation, however, to
stead of cultivating them and seeking
to win their confidence and friendship
he treated them with a dictatorialness
little short Of contempt, issuing his
orders without consulting them and
exacting explicit obedience to his man
dates.
This was notably true in the case of
free sugar. Representative Underwood
was seriously opposed to free sugar
and the President himself had given
his solemn pledge to the Louisiana
delegation that he would not ask it.
He did not ask 1.-THE demanded it.
And no one dared. at that time. to say
him nay. But now ne has been COM
free sugar provision.
Most Of the Presidential patronage
has been disposed Of and the Demo
cratic majorities are showing them
selves about as tractable as balky
mules while Mr.. Wilson is reaping the
results of his treatment Of the mem
hers Of his party. And he is appealing
to the country with the reversed logic
of year ago. Then he told Congress
there was no need of preparedness;
now he tells the people the case is
urgent Every time he repeats his new
ing. He wants the people to force
Congress to act, and at once.
The Republican leader of the House
has been obliged in a spirit of fairness
and justice, to come to the defense Of
the President. The people like to heal
the President talk but they do not
enthuse. Perhaps the spectacle of tht
chief executive visiting the chief cite:
of the country to apologize for hi:
views Of year ago, is not impressive
Last year he wanted free sugar; thi:
year he wants the Republican tariff
restored. Last year he opposed thu
Republican demand for preparedness
this year he demands greater ant
more sudden preparedness than the!
asked. Last year he dictated to Con
gress; this year he goes to the people
to influence Congress Last year HI
ridiculed the idea Of the creation of {
tariff board; this year he has come t,
favor it, and on this trip urges tn,
necessity Of "non-partisan" tariff
commission.
The President is telling his hearer.
that he is learning, and he seems to b,
on the road to Republican principles.