The Washington herald., 1915-07-26
Changes in Wilson Policies
Indicated by Recent Events
President Attitude Toward National Defense Mexican Stu
ation Patronage and Other Matters of Grave Importance
Has Become Altered Since Bryan Quit Cabinet.

! Events have been crowding in upon
| Washington so rapidly in the last few
months that it Is not generally realized
what great changes have been effected
in the attitude of the Wilson admins
tration toward many matters of the
highest importance.
The Presidents promise, announced
Saturday of an adequate consideration
of the needs of the naval and military
establishments, affords the most recent
and perhaps most striking example of the
! extent to which the Wilson administra-
ton has discarded notions with which
it was imbued when it came into power.
1t has been understood that President
Wilson, not only had but lukewarm
interest in the army and navy. but also
was included to regard them as the two
branches of the government to which it
would be necessary for him to give the
least attention. They figured hardly at
all in his scheme of things concerning
the national government.
! 1t is the belief here that the Presi-
dents change in this regard, like that
| in respect to other governmental mat
| ters is due to a contact with hard, in
escapable facts. and a better apprecia-
| ton of practical necessities. There is
no doubt that those members OF his
Cabinet whose advice has been consist
emily in accord with his action in the
submarine issue succeeded in convinc-
| ing the President that the real strength
| of a note usually consists in what is
| back of it. and that some demonstra-
| to convince Germany of the earnestness
of this government in its communica-
| tons to Berlin.
Wilson's Mexican Policy.
While there has ben no announce
ment of any real action in Mexico, nor
| is mono expected for the Immediate
present-Mr. Wilson's authorization to
Gen. Funston to return any fire across
the border at Naco was a step which
eight months ago the President was
wholly unwilling to take, though at
that time persons were being wounded
almost every day on the American
! side of the line. 1t is not doubted
here that when the President does
feel that the circumstances warrant a
further step in Mexico, his action will
be one based more on the actual
facts, derived from two years of ex-
perience with the Mexican factions.
than upon the views the President
held two years ago when he first gave
his attention to the Mexican problem
and sent John Lind to get Huerta out
of the presidency.
Recent changes and appointments in
instance in the State Department it
self-are regarded as indicating that
the President no longer subscribes TO
the Bryan theory that deserving
Democrats" were exclusively fitted for
handling such problems as the gov
eminent is dealing with every day IN
connection with foreign relations. Even
Secretary of the Navy Daniels has
ceased all references to the navy as
great university. and is instead de-
voting himself to plans for improving
the efficiency of the navy by the most
direct means available.
Influence of Bryan.
BY those in a position to know. it is
asserted that the greatest single change
within the administration. regarding its
attitude toward the problem of more
than domestic significance, came as a
result of the elimination Of the Bryan
influence. Many officials are now for
the first time realizing how the Bryan
influence permeated, and often domi-
mated, the administration. BY many it
is believed that the President would
have recognized the necessity of giving
some attention to the national defense
issue at an earlier date had he not had
in his Cabinet a man who was express
ing in the Commoner keen satisfaction
at the way the administration and Con-
gross were keeping down the appropri-
atoms for battleships and troops. Many
things Were left undone. even unmen-
toned, in the administration councils
because of the certainty in advance that
they would arouse the antagonism OF
Mr.. Bryan.
On the other hand, II is doubted II
the President would ever have insisted
that the Senate ratify the so-called
peace treaties had they not been the one
achievement which Mr.. Bryan regard
ed not as most important but most dear
to his own heart Now that Bryan has
gone. the BRYAN peace treaties are