The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-08-11
RECENT POLITICAL UTTER ANCES
MAKE FOOD FOR DISCUSSION


and that hls re-entry will be with
bells on and banners flying. the usual
spectacular and dramatic T.. X way.
That Mr. Perkins attitude in keep
Ing the skeleton Of the bull moose Ia
the Empire state from dissolying into
dust entirely. IL TO retain the one and
only card that IL likely 10 have al
influence on Republican deliberations.
Is the concensus OF opinion. The
theory advanced by a few that II
! purpose In trying TO retain at least
a ssmblance OF organization for the
time being To prevent fraction OF the
bull moose vote going over to the
( party In power. Is considered far
D fetched and hardly tenable. Holding
/ on 10 what IL left OF the third party
I IL. according to the views here. for
the purpose OF retaining something
on which to trade In short. IL Is
sort OF holding a club threateningly.
and nothing else. as the situation is
viewed from this center.
As to what Bryan will do is also
purely a speculative question at this
time. The way II Is figured out here
Is that he is almost certain to oppose
President Wilson's new-found policy
OF war preparedness at the coming
session OF congress. Taking that
position. and leading the peaceat-any-
price clan. II is looked on as a fore
gone conclusion that the contest will
soon grow so bitterly antagonistic as
TO make Bryan's opposition to VIII
son as irreconcilable as Roosevelt 8
: opposition was TO Taft As Il Is
viewed here. Bryan having made the
break with Wilson on foreign affairs.
and sponsored the succeeding state
ments as he did. he has got to 20
through with IL. He has got all TO
lose and a great deal to gain In max
ing the fight II he doesn't make
4 IL. his stock as a party leader will
have siumped down many more points.
and IL he does make the fight and
loses. II will slump just the same
! But should he be able TO win. or TO
make a showing that proved that his
leadership Is about on a par or nearly
| so before he took the stand he did
and broke away from the Wilson ad-
ministration, then be will again loom
! large-yery large in party leader
ship
President Wilson's conversion 10 8
I policy OF preparedness for any war
like eventuality Is regarded here as
politically most expedient There can
be no doubt as TO how public senti-
ment on that subject is bulking. But
the advices from the summer White
| House that IL is the aim and hope
to make the question Of national de-
! Tense the foremost issue in the next
campaign, is encountered by the very
general opinion held by public men
that II cannot be done.
However much the present admin
istration desires 10 obscure all other
issues with that one. II is the preva-
lent opinion here that. as has always
and invariably been the case. domes-
tc economic conditions will be par
amount. In other words. business
conditions and the relation OF tariff
TO the same. Another thing. fayorinG
| preparedness for war should this ma
ton be drawn into war. is not and
cannot be made a question on which
partisan lines can be drawn Both
parties will favor a strong foreign
policy and adequate preparations TO
put this country on a war footing.
There is no stronger advocate of IL
! than Mr.. Roosevelt. and not seyerer
critic OF the present administration
than he. On this issue. as well as
restoring protective tariff duties. Re
/ publican and bull moose leaders are
] as close as the fingers on ones hand
Business-this country's business
is going to be the paramount issue
in next years campaign according TO
the view OF the leaders here. They
haven't anything 10 do with making
II the question uppermost with the
voters. II Is the most important thing
/ that each and every man has in mind
AT this time. II means more to him
! than foreign relations or national de-
Tense. Business with the average cit.
lien Is an every day proposition rep.
resenting a struggle to keep his affairs
on the right side OF the ledger. Bus.
mess in this country isn't good and
| hasn't been since this m.nistration
took charge. In spots. where war
supplies are being manufactured. the
business situation is greatly improved
/ But as a matter OF consideration AS
I applied 10 the country entire. business
l Is far from being satisfactory. The
bulletin OF the Federal Reserve Board
( issued several days ago sizes II up
about right There Is prosperity in
spots due to war orders. The question
then Is, when war ceases what then?
| George W. Perkins answered this
I question a day or two ago. and. &C.
| cordine to the opinion OF the most as
| tute politicians Of national experience.
stated. IN nutshell. the issue OF ali
others that will dominate the minds
/ OF the voters Of this country next