The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-29
Presidents Followers in
Congress Certain Party Is
Near Rocks.
FEAR SWEEP BY G. O. p.
Appeal for Suffrage Lost
Wilson Support of the
Solid South.
CLINGS TO WAR POWERS
Senator's and Representatives
See Tide Turning Against
Whifn HOuSa RuIo
FEAR SWEEP BY G. 0. P.
CLINGS TO WAR POWERS
special DespatcA TO TIE sux.

special Despatch TO The SuS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-Rapid de-
,elopmcnts, starting with the Senate
rejection of the woman suffrage
amendment and eliminating with the
Presidents determination to leave the
country and attend the peace con-
ference in France. have put the
Democratic party on the rocks, with
excellent prospects of It's breaking up
in disaster.
1t is more than apparent that the
grip the President held over Congress
aad over the nation while the war
WIS actually being fought has been
broken. Members of his own party
put blame for it on the shoulders
Of the President himself. They are
certain that he realizes fully the
changed situation and that he has
abandoned all hope for 1920.
The beginning of the end. according
10 Democratic Senators, was the Pres
idents appeal for passage of the suf-
frage amendment. In making IL as
Commander in Chief of the Army and
Navy" he placed the Southern Sena-
tors who stuck by him through thick
and thin in the most embarrassing
position Of their public careers.
First Taste of Defeat.
He put upon them the onus OF fail
Ing to support him in a war measure
If they voted against the amendment.
Yet the political life of every Senator
from the South would have been worth
nothing the moment he voted 10
permit negro. women to vote any
where.
That was the first sign of a back
hone the President had discovered in
the Congress which, had done his bid
ding unquestioningly since the declara-
tion OF war. The next taste of defeat
was administered by the voters of the
United States on November 8. The
Presidents plea for support was
counter to the political judgment of
many members OF his own party In
Congress. but he did not seek their
views. In the appeal the President
took too much Of a chance, these Sena-
tors said, and the rebuke administered
at the polls was, by the wording of
the appeal, made to appear as repudia-
ion Of the President.
The result OF the election has freed
many Democrats in the Senate and
the House from the sort of allegia nee
which has been demanded of them
suhmerCing their own views and ideas
and following the Presidents lead on
eJorything.
Tho complaint of the Congressional
democrats now is that the President
his personal hopes considerably damp
fned, is careless OF the fate of the
PARTY, His mind has been so occu-
pied with developments abroad, they
say. that even now, near the begin
hlnS Of new session of Congress dur
Ing which the President will be alb
sent from the country, the Democrats
are without any particular policy and
Without a programme.
Sec Great Machine Breaking.
u is this lack of decision that is a
IN" Democrats. They take it as 4
certain sign of the beginning Of the
breaking up of a big and powerful
machine. Due to the peculiar Condi-
IONS under which the President has
com" to mean practically the Demo-
cratic party the present majority in
congress feels itself helpless TO accom-
niNh any thing toward saving the ap-
nar"ntly doomed ship or even toward
salyaS-..S the wreck.
Iher" is real resentment among the
democrats that the Administra ton
WIS caught absolutely unprepared for
p'a'", with no sort of retrenchment
policy AT all. There is also very real
resentment at the Capitol that tho
PRESIDENT is continuing to hold and ex-
'''.S" the purely war powers extended
under tho broad grants of power Con-
gross unhesitatingly gave at the be-
ginning Of the war.
CIinEs TO War Powers.
IN" Communicating powers of ship
p-HE over shipbuilding yards for naval
Pld merchant shipment the powers
gwen under the OVerman act, the es-
'"hagc act, wire and railroad control
"''& and other laws the Administra-
uon is extremely reluctant to re-
"hgnish. The spirit of these various
"h"' 'ments, with the exception of the
railroad control act, is being violated,
congress is contending, not only
through the exercise of these powers
now hut through the covert use of
these powers aiming at ultimate Gov
cNinent ownership.
In the railroad act alone. whereby
FEDERAL control over all the rail lines
was authorized. the.eXact time for re-
turning the roads to private owner
SAip was fixed at a definite period be-
'"9h the end OF the war--twenty- one
months. There is no criticism OF the
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