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Show CCOUDS GATHERING. Troubles aro coming thick and fast to the Domocratic donkey these days, after aft-er ono year of feeding at tho public crib and being in full possession of both legislative and executivo branches of tho government. Passage of tho tariff bill, providing for free sugar in 1916, OTer tho opposition of Democrat who claim a violation of the party platform, plat-form, was but tho beginning of a series of difficulties which bid fair to all but disrupt tho organization on tho eve of the congressional election. Customs receipts have shown an alarming decroase owing to tho enlargement en-largement of the free list, and thero is no way to mako up tho growing treasury treas-ury deficit, unless tho income tax law provides many moro millions than it seems likely to do, although we aro told that the estimates made during tho discussion of tho tariff measure in congress wore approximately correct. In any event, whatever is availablo from this tourco will not bo due for some months. Tho treasury has a surplus on hand at tho present timn, which, unloss all fignn fail, will be needed to pay tho running expenses of tho variouB departments. depart-ments. Tho Mexican war situation now loomB largo and portentous. Whilo the administration ad-ministration bus succeeded in pacifying pacify-ing tho foreign powers whoso citizons have heavy financial intorcsts in tho southern republic, some of which citizens citi-zens huvo been ruthlessly slaughtered during tho three years of rapine, tho time has come whon tho "watchful waiting" policy must give way to some definite action. It is only because tho invusion of Mexico or a blockade of her ports by Great Britain is not practicable prac-ticable that tho United States has been nllowod to procrastinate In tho matter of extending protection not only to foreigners, but its own citizens as well. For many weary months the "lid" has been tightly clamped on in both senato and house nud fair time ha3 boun allowed Messrs. Wilson and Bryan to composo tho situation. Tho end has come, so far ns congress is concerned, and tho muttcrings that havo been constantly con-stantly heard during tho past fow moutfis have boen succeeded by a loud mid insistent roar of indignation. Senators Sen-ators aud representatives demand to know what tho administration is going to do and refuso to keep quiet any longer upon the pretext that a full and frco expression of opinion on tho Mexican Mexi-can situation would hamper tho administration admin-istration in its efforts to maintain its policy of "peace at any price." Tho Democrats havo tried to maintain main-tain their cornposuro for tho sake of party regularity, but tho limit has ap-paroutly ap-paroutly been reached oven with thoso who aru usually docilo and subserviont whon word comes from tho "Whito house that the president has decidod the course of action to bo pursued by the legislators. Patriotism is put nbovo party by some of tho lcadora of tho majority and a chaugo of front may bo expocted ia short order. But tho donkey has other and more serious troubles than tho pacification of Mexico. In tho present inflamed state of public opinion a war with that distracted country might prove popular, popu-lar, oven though Mr. Wilson wore forced to act. Bcpcal of tho tolls provision pro-vision of the Panama canal act is a far more serious matter, so far as tho Domocratic Dom-ocratic party is concerned, for tho lino of cleavage has been drawn. Both Clark nnd Underwood have signified their intention of running counter to the expressed wishos of tho president and will oppose ropeal with all their power in tho house. Tho Sims bill may pass, but the donkey will not coaso to bray for somo timo after the whip and spur has been used. The big fight will occur in tho sen ate, where O 'Gorman and Chamberlain will manfully stand up for what they claim is the true American policy. The party in the senate is split wide open oa the repeal question and tho many exhibitions of temper have given rise to the belief that if tho Republican senators stand fast tho tolls clause will remain in tho act. Even if tho president presi-dent Is able to coerce tho majority and is allowed to havo his way about tho matter, no amount of praiso bestowed upon him by the London press will heal the breach in the party. There is etill another Ferious situation situa-tion confronting the administration. The tariff law contains a provision that a 5 per cent discount shall be allowed al-lowed on all imports carried by ships of American registry, tho intention being be-ing to favor or own merchant marine as against the foreign shipping inter-ofts. inter-ofts. This is one of tho pet provisions of Oscar Underwood, chairman of tho house ways and means committee, who was largely instrumental in framing the law which bears his name. Mr. Underwaod has insisted in sea-hu sea-hu and oat of season that the provision provi-sion regarding tho discount meant jast what it naid, bu tho New York appraisers ap-praisers asked for a ruling and the mat tcr "nas brought to the attrntiin of ?H"rclarv TrVtJoo, who askcj il:e at Reynolds decided that tho discount which was provisionally granted by the statute could not be allowed to American vessels without a violation of existing treaties between tho United States and other powers. Ho declared it inoperative and instructed tho port collectors to mako no allowance for ships of American registry. The attorney general stands upon tho provision in tho law that " nothing in this subsection shall be so construed as to abrogafo or in any manner impair or affect the provisions of any treaty between tho United States and any other nation." Tho matter was taken into the fcdornl court in New York and a decision has just been rendered by Judge B. 8. Waito tb tho offcH that it was the plain intent of congress in framing tho statute. to favor tho American Amer-ican shipping, thusibcaring out tho contention con-tention of Mr. Underwood, who was responsible re-sponsible for jt in tho first place. Now we arc told that if tho supremo court upholds the action of tho court below, tho preaidont will ask repeal of tho clause. Jf he does, the fight ovor canal tolls will palu into insignificance beside the mction that will follow any such attempt on tho part of Mr. Wilson. Wil-son. Leader Undorwood is not in full accord with tho administration and has not been since the inauguration ono year ago. Dissatisfaction on his part will undoubtedly resolve itself into. open rupture if he ib called upon to defend American shipping tho second timo in the courso of a fow months from tho assaults of tho leaders of his own party. There are many other oloments of discord which will make it hard for those in control of tho destinies of the country to go before tho people in tho coming campaign nnd put up rt winning fight. No amount of bragging will snvo tho donkey if tho Republicans tako advnntago of tho desperate situation situa-tion in which tho administration fiuds itself at tho close of the first year of Democratic rulo. |
