Evening star., 1919-05-16

nounced in the south as it is in the west
and east, Is based not alone on Mr..
Wilson's tactics in handling his con-
stituency. with reference to the peace
mission, but to the activities of the diff
ferent departments of the government
with which the people come in contact.
Many Of Mr.. Wilson's mistakes in
connection with the peace negotiations
may be forgiven when the peace treaty
is ratified and the people calmly sur
vey the results and Accomplishments.
but they will not as rapidly forget the
fact that their soldiers in France rarely
got mail from home in less than five or
six weeks, and oftentimes longer periods
than that. Thay will not forget that
much misery and suffering was caused
by the mix-up over allotments to the
wives OF soldiers.
Complaints at Home. ga,
They viii not forget that the postal
service at home has failed them, that
telegraph and telephone rates have been
increased; that whereas it never used
to. cost anything to i1aye: a telephone
installed or, moved from one room to
another, the government exacted all the
way from S. to SIS for such changes,
and that railroad rates are higher than
they ever have been and there are
fewer trains than heretofore. They will
not forget the number of times 7hey
have tried to buy railroad tickets at
consolidated ticket offices and found
hardly enough clerks to wait on the
crowds. They will not forget annoy
ances of this kind when they demand
that the railroads be returned to private
owners, and the officials of these same
pie are going to demand efficiency.
Most of these things affected every
body. But as for classes in our public
opinion. Well. the business men are
dissatisfied over taxation. More grum-
bling is heard in the exclusive clubs
about this than elsewhere, but it
would be mistake to pass off this
murmuring as the grievance of the
wealthy, for the inequities of the in
come tax touched many men who
found a penalty placed upon initia-
tive as we'll as profits. The republi-
can party, will find this a vexing ques-
tion and one that will require much
explaining if two years hence condi-
tions have not been remedied.
Reconstruction Problems.
Business men, however, have become
almost a unit in their opposition to
the present administration. not so
much because Of the taxation prob
isfaction was inevitable no matter
which party attempted to administer
the income tax for the first time. but
because of a neglect of reconstruction
problems and a tardiness in making
adjustments onawar contracts.
The governments plans to stabilize
industry and assist America back to
business competition after a period of
necessary regulation of many busi-
~
Gratis as we'll as republicans are dis
pleased about that. Maybe the execu-
tive branch of the government still
has time to save the democratic party
from an enduring demerit in this re-
gard, but the amount Of confidence in
the democratic cabinet which I find
among business men could be poured
into thimble without overf1owing.
If Mr.. Wilson came back from Europe
and asked for designations. most of
the men in the cabinet, particularly
Postmaster General Burleson, never
would be missed.
So far as the Presidents own fu-
ture is concerned. people do not ex-
pect him to run for third term. but
his own friends doubt that he could
be elected. Unless he deliberately
sought the radical vote of the country
and appealed to the laboring masses
on some issue Of vitality that might
later develop. the consensus Of opin-
ion is that the contest would not
even be close.
Resiliency in Politics
If Mr.. Wilson makes up his mind
not to run for third term, and an
nounces that fact, -he, will suddenly
become the most powerful political
force in America People will forgive
many Of his errorSsalso IL he changes
his tactics and shows desire to mend
fences. They will look upon him as
having finished with politics, and,
therefore, as having no political end
and only the public interest to serve.
Mr. Wilson's resiliency in politics has
been too well demonstrated in the
past. He maintains the respect of
the overwhelming mass of the Amer
lean people for his integrity and ear
nestness of purpose, even though they
may have lost confidence in him as a
practical administrator. Any an
nouncement from him that he is
through with public office and is
working only to bring peace would
bring a wide response from people in
all parties, and build up a sentiment
in favor OF ratifviny the Peace treaty,
with league Of narions included, that
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