Evening star., 1916-09-26
Developments Indicate That
Action Of Congress Will Fea-
ture Political Campaign.
DEMOCRATS ON DEFENSIVE;
LINE UP RAILWAY WORKERS
National Parties Are "Going to the
: Mat" on Recent Legislation and
Both Sides Welcome Fight.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

CHICAGO, September 2o.-
Developments continue to indi-
cate that the great issue of the
national political campaign for
the present at least, and until
some turn in these days of swift
and countrywide changes shall
possibly supplant it overnight, is
the action of Congress, under
pressure from President Wilson,
enforcing the eight-hour wage
day.
That the democrats are on the defen-
sive was shown by the Presidents
speech at Shadow Lawn and by what
has since transpired. The democratic
national committee is already busying
itself lining up the railway men on the
administrations side Of self-defense, and
the first Of results were produced today
in signed letter from W. q. Lee, sup
rorting President Wilson's course most
strenuously.
The answer Of the republicans to this
is that 1t is confirmatory of the charge
OF political play by the administration
with the railway brotherhoods, to which
seventy-odd republicans in the House
were compelled to lend acQuiescence by
the exigency Of the situation. and that
the brotherhoods are now carrying out
their part Of the bargain.
shav - l.
out. merely In the routine of the days
aGrk of describing the political situa-
f.en as 1t unfolds. what part the course
cs the President. proclaimed and de-
.cnded by him as humanitarian action, is
10 become . burning political issue.
Both Sides Welcome Issue.
There was another feature Of the po-
lstical end Of the proposition In the
tional committee sent out excerpts
rom an editorial in Senator Lafol-
lette's weekly magasine. defending the
PRESIDENT. senator Lafoliette is run
the republican ticket in wisconsin. He
was the only senator. officially classi-
lied as republican. who voted for the
President.s bill It is evident beyond
eretic and republican national organi-
..atlons are going to the mat" on the
sight-hour wage legislation and both
sides are welcoming the issue.
As stated in The Stars dispatches
sunday. the next week or more will
Wftness the democratic campaign cheer
ing up and the republican campaign
Gratis were heartened today by news
from North Dakota, where everything
--as thought to be all squegee for the
fepubIicans- According to advices. the
~hich much. has been written in The
stars CORRESPONDENTS. and which will
control the state election, has been
captured in its captaincy and bridge
are favorable to President Wilson. and
if they can maintain discipline and pass
the word down to the rank and file. the
comparison organization may swing
10 the democratic national ticket.
Puts Democrats in ouandary.
News from the state of Washington
came in today to the effect that former
Senator Turner. democratic candidate
for United States senator, has declared
for. protection to Washington products,
seeking to win the support of pro-
tectionist republicans against Poin-
dexter, candidate for senator. That puts
the republicans in a quandary: they
iare invited to vote for democrat
lBIANOlNS IOI pEOtcCtiOu against d re-
publican who voted for the Underwood
bill Likewise. the democrats have the
ichoice Of voting for candidate who
declares for a vital republican prin-
ciple or support a man who voted with
their party once, but is now nominated
as republican.
l. Here is another ny In the republican
amber. The Women's Hughes Alliance
is specially training through the west
That's all right in spots, but 1t falls out
that there are some German communi-
ties where the Germans do not like
woman suffrage because in the end II
epells prohibition. and now the sched-
sizes may have to be changed.
| Now, there's whole bunch Of politf-
lcal anomalies and paradoxes. What's
the answer? That we won't take any
l0f them too seriously but regard them
all as part Of the game. and remember
that a lot of fun can be got out Of
lpoiitics IL you don't let politics obsess
axeai, nm a raolificiahR fool 1.o1 al ha