New Britain herald., 1915-08-31
KERN TO OPPOSE
 BIG DEFENSE PLAN
Says His Constituents Are Against
 Spending S500,00O,O00

Washington, Aug. 31.-Administra ton officials let it be known yester- day that as soon as the Arabic crisis may be considered as settled Presi dent Wilson will concentrate his at tentjon on the national defence pro- gram.
 It is known already that the presi- dent and his advisers are giving care full consideration to the subject of army and navy increases. It is un- derstood that strong pressure is be- ing exerted upon the administration to adopt a conservative course Tn she ping the national defence policy. This was indicated yesterday by a statement made by Senator Kern of Indiana, democratic leader of the senate, who was a caller at the White House.
 Senator Kern. declared emphatical- ly that the sentiment of the people in his section of the country was against the expenditure of $500, 900, 900 on warships and army increases. He said he thought that this statement ap- piled with like force to the sentiment east of the Alleghany mountains.
 Interest in Kern's Words.
 Mr. Kerns utterance attracted much attention among persons who are closely watching developments re- garding the national defence policy, for it has come to be accepted gen. orally in well informed circles here that the recommendation about to be submitted to President Wilson by Sec retary Daniels and Secretary Garri- son would call for the expenditure of approximately the amount named. The senator would not give his ut terances tangible form in respect of number of warships or of the size of army increases which should be au- 1 thorized. He merely declared his op- position and that of his constituents to "big" army and navy program. He believed that they would oppose any appropriations for a considerable number of super er-dreadnoughts. He said the ardor for Dig navy does not exceed the ardor for war in In- diana.
 No Fear After War. Down my way" he continued, i've do not believe that at the end of this l war, when all of the belligerent na- tions have spent their strength, we l need to fear that any one of them will send men 5000 miles across the At 1 lantic ocean to overrun this country 1 of ours"
 The utterances of the majority | leader of the senate are in accord with the view expressed by Repre- sentative Claude Kitchin or North Carolina, who is slated to succeed Senator-elect Underwood in the house lea adership.
 \ Big Task FOreShadOWed. Since the president authorized the announcement from the White House more than a month ago which was accepted by the country as an earnest of his commitment to a programme of adequate army and navy development there have been increasing evidences in addition to the announcements from the majority leaders of congress that the administration has a hard task before it in pushing it's pro- gram to enactment.
 In the midst of these recurrent re- ports as to public sentiment President Wilson is finding it hard to steer a steady course.
 Wilson Hard Pressed
 On one hand he is beseged by the propaganda of Colonel Roosevelt, the advice of his own secretary of war MT. Garrison, and his personal politi- cal mentors as well as by his own conviction that the recent nearness of actual rupture with Germany demon- strated the foolishness of unprepared- ness.
 On the other hand he is hearing from the politicians themselves re- ports of a popular lukewarmness that is discouraging in the extreme.
 Wilson Doesn't Worry.
 The word which comes from a high official source, however is that the president has not Wavered because of these discouragements and that he is prepared to Ego through" with the policy he indicated in the White House announcement of July 23 No more definite statement of this policy can be obtained, however, than that he intends to urge upon congress programme for 'adequate" army and navy development
 It was said at the White House yes- terday that the president already has written to the chairman of the Milf tary and Naval committee of the house and senate asking them to con- fer with him at the White House some time in September.
 A reply has been received from Chairman Padgett of the House Naval committee, and it is probable that MT. Padgett will come to Washington at an early date. The other committee chairman will follow at the presidents convenience.
 C. J. WILLS DEAD.