Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-19
Plight of-Democrat1c Party
Golfers Weekly.

| The last two months have witnessed the most
extraordinary political upset in the history OF
the country. An administration, clothed with
authority never before equaled, led by man
OF fascinating address, at the close OF VIC
! torlous war and almost at the very moment OF
victory, turns to the people for their approval.
To emphasize and make more binding the ex-
pected mandate for a continuation OF tul au-
thority, the president addresses to voters a NOV
ing appeal in rs best and most convincing man.
ner, calling or them to return to congress men
OF his own political party in order that he may
be unhlndered in the pursuit OF his politics dur
ing one of the most complicated and difficult
periods in the history Of civilization. What is
the response? Instead of granting the mandate
as matter of course the intelligent and lnde-
pendent voters OF the United States sharply
deny the appeal. In the present congress the
democrats have large majority in the senate
and safe but small one in the house. In the
next congress the republicans will have ma
jority of two in the senate and majority of
about 48 in the house. And it will not be a
mere party aiority. 1t will constitute an mex
orable opposition to the plans and policies OF
the administration
| What is more, the feeling Of hostility to the
| administration which was manifested at the
polls in November has grown in intensity. The
newspapers, at last Engaged and unfetered, are
| speaking their minds. We seldom see paper
of any consequence that does not contain sharp
criticism of the president and his advisers, and
this statement applies to democratic as well as
republican organs. The people one meets, of
ali political affiliations, are of one voice in con-
demning such acts as the appeal to voters, the
proposed journey of the president to Europe in
the company of George Greet and the seizure
| of the cables at a time when the freest COM
municaton is a public necessity. II it is ever
possible to Judge political probabilities from the
expressed opinion of many men, an election
| i,.tl
majority in both houses of congress as they have
not had for many years.
| What has brought about this amazing revul-
sion Of feeling? No better summing up OF the
causes could be made than the article written
by the Washington correspondent of the New
York Evening Post. The writer has been in the
| presidents counsel has pleaded for him in sea-
! son and out and has been generally accepted
as the spokesman of the administration. The
validity of his criticism is enhanced by the fact
| that he is one of the fondest worshippers OF the
president, and has often written about him with
intoerable fulsomeness His reasons for the
diminished popularity of Mr.. Wilson and the
enfeebcd condition of his party have been well
expressed in the following paragraphs
| "Mr. Wilson, in his absorption in international
questions has got himself out of touch with the
true spirit of America on domestic questions.
The sort of democracy which the president
preached for years is no longer beheld in the
autocratc and bureaucratic character OF the ad-
vsers who now influence his actions, or in the
high wall he has built around himself,
"He has made mistake in deciding to take
along with him to Europe Mr.. George Creel,
who has lost the confidence of the American
press and thereby of the people.
"The taking over control of the Atlantic
cables by Postmaster General Burleson at the
time of the announcement of the transfer Of
Creels activities to Europe is denounced by the
presidents most loyal friends as a colossal
blunder
"The cabinet is superannuated and in rut and
| Mr. McAdoo should not have been permitted
"The president has been shutting his doors to
qualified advisers and depending too much on
his own judgment and the counsels of a small
body of provncially minded advisers.
"He hasn't consulted republicans as we'll as
democrats on foreign affairs
"He is attempting to manage the government
in personal and private way which does not
square with his profession of democracy
'He has failed to take the people into his
confidence with regard to what he means to do
at the peace conference, or with his arrange
ments for the transaction of executive business
during his absence from the country"
1t would be impossible to write more severe
criticism of the craftsmanship of the man to
whom all the civilized world looked for leader
ship few weeks ago. 1t is equally an indict-
ment of the sagacity and good faith of the presi-
dents advisers With the exception of Mr..
Tumulty he seems to have no one in his con-
hdence who will give him advice that is at once
intelligent and candid. His Burlesons, Creels
and Kitchins have put the democratic party on
the rocks. 1t will be saved, not by them, but
traditions and the useful part it has played in
the uDbudnp of the nation