The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-31
Cost Great Question.

domestic problems have been bulking
larger n larger and the demand for a
lower cost OF living has been growing
Also the demand for the removal OF in
competent cabinet officers and partic-
ularly an ~unfayorable opinion of Post
master General Burleson because Of his
attitude. toward labor and his manage
ment Of the postal service have been
getting more and more pronounced.
Seeing MI. Wilson inactive. on do
meatic problems which the average man
thinks are more acute than foreign
policies, the faith of the voter Is Is IN
elinsd to be shaken. Mr., Wilson would
have been stronger with American pub
lie opinion today and the Republican
opposition to the league OF nations and
peace treaty would never have grown
SO bold If the president had begun to
reform the Democratic party from
within and had, especially before the
last elections, clearly taken issue with
those In congress who were plainly out
Of harmony with his policies, but who
led the party into various venue on
taxetiQn that helped to o%verturn the
beThocratic party last November.
Very little has. been lone by the Dem
ocfatie administration to correct the
abuses which were fundamental in the
public's mandate last November. The
same cabinet remains. The same atti-
tude on the domestic questions is every
day weakening the strength of Presi-
dent Wilson, who Is held responsible
for the acts Of the subordlnates whom
BE- appoints.
What Mr.. Cummings undoubtedly win
tell the president is that 70 get back
In the same strong position which Mr..
Wilson occupied when, by the aid Of
o powerful public opinion, ne put
through the federal reserve act, or even
the repeal of the Pan-American canal
tnIIQ hn VnIVQf EaKaAxra tha
complaint on problems that touch the
average man much more closely now
than the prevention or future wars.
Cummins has been chairman Of the
Democratic national committee only a
shert time U he Is OF the cpnscienti-
son optimism when he knows that the
situation Is not as easy as It ceerns
or must be painted In the formal IN
teryiews that national chairmsn give.
| No better friend OF Mr.. Wilson THAI
MT, CUMMINGS ever managed a cam
avef, by the Democratic chairman him
self that the published report a letter
alleged to have been written by him
speaking in an unfriendly tone con-
corning the presidents absence in Eu-
surd.
Mr.. Cnmnings has visited the princi-
pal cities bf the West, He finds the
idea Of a league OF nations popujar
with the masses. He finds he people
very much disturbed over the searing
mings is quick to point out that The
Republican aeuse of repreesntatives. III
stead of investigating profiteers, will
adjourn for the summer. If Mr.. viii
son should find 1t necessary to ask for
legislation to curb prefiteerirg, the
Democrats would promptly charge the
delay TO Republican absence. Clearly,
teh average man is not getting much
satisfaction from either political party,
IN Bad Position.
Before the present congress convened
the Republicans were IN high favor.
They have gotten into embarrassing
| situations inside their party, Tho rival
ny between the Mann and Mondeli fac
tioons has cropped 9ut again, and again,
ship have been openly e~atalogned BY the
! Mann Supporters, Champ Clark, The Fni-
liority leader, has beea playing horse
with his opponents 10 parliamentary
The effort to repeal the daylight
was clumsilv handled. The Republi-
cans swallowed the rebuke given In the
presidential veto Of the bill which failad
to provide enough funds for the reha-
elntat1on Oh WouHuhn soldiers, sailors
and marines, Many Republicans don't
Think such an one ming should ever have
been given the president.
Similarly, the Republicans have beer
cutting down the si7s of the army and
have had to supplement their own leg
isiation with provision for more com
missioned officers in response to pub
lie sentiment which saw the air service
hcrumbling and the army d~islntegrating.
Finally, the house Republicans got
into a quarrel with the senate Repub-
Leans and 1t seemed pest for all con-
oerned TO adjourn the hcN~a I'D vt
the rival leaders cool off while the sem
ate handled the peace treaty,
rope BY president Wilson ana his re-
tention OF officials admittedly out OF
tune with public oninion and a. yie.
torious Republican party at odds with
itself concerning q program of domes-
ito legislation as wal ~ q constructive
substitute for the league of nations,
neither the Democrats nor the Repub-
Leans are particularly pleased with
themselves.
Mf. Wilson has been unfamiliar witt.
domestic affairs. He has beer back
a month now but a repor. directly
from the paopAS Including the leadern
Of his own party, has now been placed
in his hands by Chairman Cummings. II
Is bound to bear fruit.
Copyright 1919, by the News Scimi-