The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-23
Party Divided, But Fact Not
Emphasized As That Of
oroanizationin Power,
FIRST WORD ON PLATFORM
q. 0.P. Leaders Believe They
win Be Able to Take Advan.
tage Of Mistakes.

What will be the attitude OF the Re-
publican party on preparedness in the
next campaign?
This Is q question which is being
widely asked by both Republicans ana
Democrats in Congress. 1t would not
be easy to ind correct answer. AZ
a matter of fact, though a great deal
has been said about the division OF the
Democrats on the issue of national DE-"
Tense. the Republicans Of House ara
Senate arc about as widely divided.
Partly because the Democrats are IN
mower and have the responsibility in
the eyes of the nation, and partly be-
cause so conspicuous a political figure
as Bryan is leading the revolt against
preparedness in his party, the Demo-
cratic factionalism has been much more
emphasized than has the Republican
difference Of view over the wisdom or
Increased army and navy and enlarged
armaments.
United Party Doubtful.
IT is doubtful. too. whether the prog
ress Of the debate over the military bill
and the navy bill will serve to unite
the Republicans in Congress on the
proposition of how far the Government
should go In the way of preparation.
The general situation is that the East
ern Republicans and those from the
far West are strong for preparedness.
But the Republicans from the Mi'I1le
West either are lukewarm I'm most cases
or are opposed to increased preparation,
though there are some executions TO
this. Among the Democrats. one finds
the opposition TO preparedness chiefly
among members from the Middle West
and South.
But in one respect. the Republican
party chiefs think they are going to
have a big advantage over the Demo-
Gratis. In the convention beginning June
plank dealing with the national de-
Tense issue in some way. The Demo-
Gratis Will have to ADOPT plank in
their convention beginning June IL.
Necessarily the Democrats will be
forced to stand by what they do in Con-
gress. though nobody knows yet what
that will be. knowing this. the Re-
publicans think they can strike note
on the preparedness Issue and strike u
first. which will meet the approval OF
the country.
Want First Word On Platform.
Much wonderment has been expressed
as to why the Republicans put their
convention, as the minority party usual
~ follows the majority party. The chief
reason, It appears, was that the Re-
publicans thought 1t would be advisable
to say the first platform word on pre-
paredness and say 1t in fashion that
would emphasize the faults OF the Demo-
cratic preparedness legislation in Con-
gress, If, as they expect, 1t should be
found to be faulty when put through.
Congress just now is considerably in
the air as to what the public really
wants on national defense. But by next
June, Il probably will be better under
stood what Is the public temper. The
Republicans think that when their con-
vention is held. knowing the public mind
as thev expect to do by that time. they
can declare themselves through their
platform in n way to meet the approval
of n largo majority of the voters. II
there should be too big an outerSy
accordingly II the country should be
demanding more preparedness than the
Democrats provide for, the Republican
platform can be so shaped.
Both Sides Playing Politics.
1t may be said this Is applying poll
tics. and nothing but politics, to a vital
public question, but the truth is that
both parties are showing more dispo-
sition TO try to catch the public opin-
ion on national defense than they are
to the consideration Of the preparedness
problem from a strictly strategic and
International standpoint.
Much talk has been going the rounds
that preparedness would be considered
by Congress in a non-parusah spirit.
So 1t will, to a certain extent. But only
to a certain extent. 1t Is going to prove
impossible to keep politics out of this
issue. and the discussion both of ma
tional defense and of revenue legisla-
tlon will find the air thick with politics.
while the average member will not
hesitate to trim his sails to suit senti-
ment In his State or district. BY the
same token, the defense question will
20 into the conventions and win be a
conspicuous subject for the 1916 cam
paign.
Sometimes a fight is decided by the
tirst blow. Sometimes it isn't. Any
how. the Republicans think it won't be
nmiss next June to get in the first YER
bal lick on preparedness.