The Washington times., 1917-10-08
RUMORS FOLLOW
congressman Off
TO REPAIR FENCES
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

sional campaign. The real night win
probably be In the primaries.
Democrats as well as Republicans
will have . lot OF explaining to DO TO
their constituents on the curious logic
which exempts the income Of q men,
ber OF Congress from taxation and
levies it on his fellow citizens ad lib.
Many an ambitious Democrat or
Republican who has been reading
the Congressional Record and who
has examined the war tax bills can
find plenty of material wherewith to
prove that the party domination
should not 90 to the incumbent.
Many members really fear their pri-
mary campaigns more than the sub
sequent election.
As for the issues on which the Re-
publicans hope to get complete pos
session Of the House next time, the
only argument they have thus far
made relates TO the failure OF Presi-
dent Wilson and the Democrats to
permit of the appointment OF q joint
Congressional committee to supervise
war expenditures. Even this issue is
admitted to be OF doubtful value be-
cause the test Of extravagance will
be the result attained
II the management by the War and
Navy Departments and the Shipping
Board and the food administration
and the other executive bureaus prove
equal to their tasks and Americas
part in the war is by this time next
year of acknowledged greatness, mem
bers of Congress realize they will
have to look for issues in commercial
matters relating to fxation OF prices
and after-the-war handling OF trade
snd immigration problems.
But II ThInEs CO wrOnG.
But II things go wrong. II members
Of the Cabinet of the Democratic Ad-
minlstration come troopers, the Re-
publicans will not be slow to make an
issue not merely OF extravaganza but
OF gross inefficiency.
Whatever the events Of the next
twelve months-and no member of
Congress feels himself sufficient a
prophet to say that any party is as
sured of success in the next election
II is beginning to be evident that the
war will furnish enough Issues to
keep party strife alive, even II the
members OF Congress politically hAb-
ituated to campaigning have to manu-
facture both the fuel and the FIRE for
the purpose.
The Republicans have maintained q
publicity bureau throughout the re-
Gently ended session of Congress, and
party machinery has been kept a
well oiled as was possible with q d.
verted interest In the country.
The Democrats haven't been mall
ing literature boasting about their
accomplishments. but this is to be ex-
pected sooner or later
President T0 Keen AISSf.
About the only man who has kept,
and will continue to keep absolutely
Rloof from domestic politics Is Presi
dent Wilson. He will not BE able to
help out Democrats Is heretofore, be-
cause he has been given ungrudging
support by Republican members Of
Congress and he will want to retain |
that support whatever political COM
plexiou the House or Senate may re.
ceive at the polls.
In fact, II is refreshing to find that
at the Executive end OF the National
Capital party lines not merely, but
party talk has disappeared. Only in
the cloak rooms OF Congress has party |
rivalry and party machination flour |
ished, but Congress IL always essen
TALLY political.
And yet the astonishing thing Is
that on the major questions OF war
and peace, sentiment is undivided.
No movement for an early peace, |
no pressure from constituents for q
OF war plans, no wide
spread discomfort with what has
been done thus far, no appreciable
protest or resistance to the operation |
of the selectiye draft lawn fact |
with the exception OF men like SEN
ator LaFolIette. who have q person |
al following and who receive tele-
grams and letters by the thousands
their attitude, while |
other members get thousands con- |
demning the same, 1t is not an ex-
to say that the folks back |
home have not bothered Congress
very muchc in the last few months
but have given the lawmakers a
free hand.
When they 20 to their districts.
however, and mingle with constitu-
ents for eight weeks, they may ind
people more Inquisitive about the war
and its management
What the Senators and Representa-
tives say when they come back in
December will be worth while study
ing as a true index OF public opinion
on the war and its prosecution