Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-01
President, Defying Wild
Asses in Own Party,
Supported by Repub-
licans
THE COUNTRY SAVED
GREAT HUMILIATION
Germany Encouraged by Demo-
Gratis to Hold Out Against the
Presi d en- t-SenatOr Lodge
Quick to Point the Folly
Speaker Clark Had Opportuni-
ty of a Life Time

washington, D. c.. Feb. 29.-Spe-
ciaD-Upside down again! Every
thing chaotic for a few days. The
House Is a Democratic spectacle. The
Senate is almost as bad. All the
country gets by the ears. What are
We coming it? Germany hears echoes
Of the political din clear across the
water and over the enemy's trenches.
Encouragement. you say. to stand out
against the President! Yes, yes. 1t
is probably all too true. ''The damage
is complete, as far as Berlin is con-
cerned." Secretary of State Lansing
thinks without saying a word. What
a grand old Democratic time it has
been
And it has been a Democratic time
for sure. Republicans never behaved
more splendidly in the life of this Con-
gress or during the existence of any
other Democratic Congress. If they
had not come to the front in time of
grave crisis, there is no telling what
might have, happened. The crazy
Democrats would apparently have run
away WALL liASHiSO1SSts, PehSSCu ACSOlu-
tions declaring that this government
warn American citizens not to travel
on any merchantmen whatever that
carried gun for defensive purposes.
The President, defying the wild asses
within his own party. would have been
placed under the tremendous handicap
of a Democratic protest against his
exhaustive efforts to bring the sub
marine negotiations to a satisfactory
ending. A shameful status. that. one
Of these days, might cause AmericarS
to bow their heads in humilia Ion,
might have been inevitable.
One hesitates at the proper language
in which to characterize tine scenes Of
the last few days ~ Washington. The
new aspect of things became con-
spicuous in an ,fternoon. Some say i.
was a combination of 'pacifists, pol
troons, politicians and pro-Germans."
The concrete idea that Americans
should ,1ot go aboard merchantmen
armed for defense within the ancient
intcrna tional law requiments sounds
plausible to nearly every man. But
the complications which would ensue
if a change were made in that doc
trine during war time by neutral
nation are not generally understood.
and, one would think are understood
least of all by large parcel of Demo-
cratic Congressman.
Bryan Behind It All.
And Bryan, persistent and insiduous,
is still at it! The very morning that
President Wilson's letter to Chairman
Stone, Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, setting forth reasons for
standing like a rock, appeared Bryan
dispatched kilograms to his faithful
Democratic followers in the House
asking them to vote through resolu-
lions to withhold passports to Ameri-
cans who would travel on armed mer-
chantmen and so forth. No wonder.
do you think, that patriotic Democrats
at the Capitol CRASHED their teeth in
rage at Bryan or that the President
talked plainly to some of his callers
about the heap Of trouble that Bryan
had thoughtlessly piled up for him IN
the Lusitania case.
But Bryan still has followers in pub
lie life. There are lots Of Representa-
tives, elected as Democrats, who not
only fear their pro-German constitu-
ents and who are also aware that
Bryan has active sympathizers in their
districts. Possibly great tide of re-
sentiment will roll in upon these al
legged lawmakers. when the dear people
hear the whole Of the case. But this
does not deter the Nebraskan. who
thought when he came to Washington
three years ago that he was to be the
unofficial President and who was tre-