Evening star., 1938-07-06

presidency. 1t also ShoDS many
Presidents have gone under IN this
ordeal. The hon and Dhy Of 1t Is
described here in the third OF
series OF four articles.
BY WILLIAM C. McCLOY.
How greatly 1885 mid-term elec-
lions may affect President Roose-
velt's second administration is not yet
clear. But the situation has much
In common with a former mid-term
election that profoundly Influenced
the second term of another Demo-
cratic President, Grover Cleveland.
The triumphant comeback of Mr..
Cleveland in 1892 shook the country.
For the first time in 80 years, the
Democratic party obtained control Of
both branches of Congress and the
presidency. The way seemed entirely
clear for four years Of uninterrupted
management.
Like Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr. Cleveland
was from New York and in high favor
with many Republicans as with many
Democrats. Both were more accept
able to the country at large than to
certain factions of their own party
in their own State. And-a most
striking parallel-each became Chief
Executive at times which, though far
apart in years, were closely alike in
the new ideas that had emerged from
the national life and political con-
sciousness. Even old issues were, for
the first time, being interpreted in
unprecedented ways.
The mid-term elections Of Mr..
Cleveland's second administration
have become . classic story. Scarcely
was he inaugurated than, like an
other Democratic President from New
York in 1888, he met the full force
bf 4 depression that swept the coun-
try. There was q panic in Wall Street,
300 banks closed and factory and
mills everywhere shut down. Great
was the suffering among the farming
and laboring classes.
Fight on Depression.
To meet the crisis, Mr.. Cleveland
called . special session Of Congress.
This was IN August, 1893, and his
first message to that body in his sec
ond term Of ONCE split the Democratic
party wide open. That message ad-
vocated Sound money! gold
standard-as q panacea for the panic
and there was in Congress at that
time . young Nebraska Democrat,
William J. Bryan, who stood sturdily
for free silver"-and there were
many more like him, both Republicans
and Democrats, especially from the
West. . section that had Just become
powerful.
From that moment, the two major
political parties knew q new lineup
and many Of them never again re-
turned to their old alignment.
A series Of strikes further demoral-
he'd the administration-the country
at that time being not 50 accustomed
10 such demonstrations as it is now.
Mr.. Cleveland added to the novelty
OF the situation by sending Federal
troops to quell Chicago strikers, an
action which was much criticized.
All these things conspired to turn
NE mid-term elections of Mr.. Cleve-
lands second term into q veritable
debecls for the Democrats. The Re-
pubhcans won majority in both
Houses Of Congress and the Demo-
Gratis were practically exiled until 1913,
when they came back with Woodrow
Wilson through = similar factional
night IN ths Republican party.
Congress on His Hands.
Like many Presidents, Cleveland did
hot like Congress. But he was more
frank than most in expressing his opin-
hons. Who can tell what the damned
ecoundrels will do when we once get
them?" he once said. At another
time: Il can take care OF the Senate;
they are just a lot of old patronage
brokers" To a suggestion that he
Join friend upon a weekend vaca-
tion. Cleveland replied: Il can't. I
have Congress on my hands,
phrase that has become q classic.
On the other hand, Congress didn't
like Mr.. Cleveland. He had lost his
popularity with certain Republicans
and the Democrats with silver lean
angs hated him with all the intensity
Of men who have split their party.
Mr.. Cleveland defled Congress most
successfully over foreign affairs. But
IN its final session, the Republican
majority of the 54th Congress pre-
ferred to mark time rather than risk
unnecessary encounters with President
Cleveland. A bill to raise the tariff
- - D.:
the next administration. Likewise, the
arbitration treaty with Great Britain
Mr.. Cleveland was said to be fond