The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-11-16
TO CONFER WITH
REPUBLICANS
Wilson 10 Meet Minority Leaders
Of Congress.
DEFENSE PLAN THE SUBJECT

|
Announcement Held to Indicate the
Presidents Intention to Seek Re-
publican Support to Offset Demo-
cratic Defection--Strength Of Bryan
Following In the House-Taxation
Problem.
Washington, Nov. 12.-White House
cfficials announced that President
Wilson will invite the Republican
leaders of congress to confer with
him on the administration national
defense program. The announcement
II held to indicate the presidents In
tention to seek Republican support
to fill the gap made by any Demo-
cratic defections. 1t probably means
that the president will not attempt
to have q Democratic caucus bind the
Democratic members to the support
Of the administration measures.
Political leaders see in the presi-
dents decision evidence of his de-
termination to set about Immediately
providing against embarrassments to
his program resulting from the Bryan
agitation and the opposition of Rep
resentative Kitchen, the next major
ity leader, and other Democrats who
have indicated that they will not sup
port the administrators national
defense plans. Already friends Of Mr..
Bryan have made quiet investisa-
tion as to the attitude Of the Demo-
Gratis in the house on the national
defense issue and are convinced that
the opposition to the administration
The opposition, therefore, will be in
an exceedingly strong position. should
the president consider an attempt to
make the army and navy bills party
measures. Their strength would lie,
say political leaders, In their ability
tc throw the control of the national
situation into the hands of the Re-
publicans.
Apart from this, however. II is
pointed out that Il the Bryan adher-
ents succeed in lining up the number
of votes indicated they will have COM
pletely wiped out the Democratic
house majority, which now numbers
only 25 votes.
Not Party Measure.
II Is anticipated that the president
will have practically no difficulty In
securing Republican support for
lrrger national defense measures, in
nsmuch as the members of the minor.
fly party regard the national defense
movement just as much their own as
Il is a movement of the Democratic
party. II is not so certain though that
Republicans, if they hold the balance
of power, may not force the accept
Gnce OF some details of their own
making 1t is asserted confdentially
by national defense propagandlsts
that bigger army and navy program
will be passed by congress by ma
1ority of both parties, including a
goodly number Of Progressives.
The opponents of the program have
TO delusions on this score. Repre-
sentative Kitchen, who has announc
ed his intention to oppose the navy
program. has said repeatedly that he
realizes he Is in minority in the
house. Some of the opponents, how
ever, profess to believe that a reac
tion OF public sentiment and of tine
sentiment Of congress may eventuatt
before the final votes on the defense
measures. Those who hold to this
view predict that discussion Of tn.
taxation problems which grow out o
the national defense program ma
serve to ALLEVIATE some Of the supper
now given to the presidents plans
The high percentage Of taxes which
will go to the support of the arm.
snd navy after the adoption Of tn,
| defense program, II Is said. ha
not fully been realized by the peopl
generally, but 1t Is certain that a bi
feature Of the agitation against tn
program will be discussion of tn
taxation problem.