Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-08-06
WILSON'S DEFENSE
PLANS NOT RADICAL
ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM TO
BE MODERATE IN EXPENSE
AND SCOPE.

Announcement recently by PreSi-
dent Wilson that he would confer
soon with Secretaries Garrison of the
war department and Daniels of the
navy on methods of providing for the
national defense, caused considerable
spe ;Ilation at first, but now, though
no official statement has been maGe,
all those who assumed the president
had an elaborate program in mind
have come to different conclusion.
IL the national capital according
to the correspondent of the Christian
Science Monitor, it is believed,
among army and navy authorities
who have been consulted recently on
defense matters, that the program
ultimately to be adopted by the ad-
minstration will be moderate in scope
and cost; that is to say, it will not go
to the extremes that have been de-
manded by men who have been
clamorOus for program of army and
navy expansion that would involve
the outlay, in half a dozen years, of
$500, 100000 to $4,000, 100000.
Nor, on the other hand, it is pointed
out, will the administration program
reflect the views of the ultra
pacifcists-who seem to want little
or nothing done to meet the emer-
gency which the president admits, by
his arrangements for conference
with secretaries Garrison and Daniels,
has an existence.
In short, say the experts, the ad-
ministratiOn program will almost
certainly represent middle ground be-
tween the two extremes. 1t will say
that present defense plans are made
quate, but it will not ask Congress to
place the country, in time of peace,
upon a war footing.
Such = Program Popular.
Such a program, 1t is pointed out.
carefully considered as to details, and
preserving the proper balance be-
tween the two arms of the service,
would invite partisan attack in either
House of Congress. but would be
supported by men of both parties re-
gardless of party Affiliations. That
kind of support would be likely to
rally public opinion all over the
country, and give the administration
a backing so nearly unanimous as to
point a significant moral for Europe.
1t would at the same time make 1t
impossible for either party to use the
military and navy expansion program
for partisan effect in the presidential
next year.
In this connection 1t is to be kept
in mind that the program finally
agreed upon will be the Presidents;
he will personally assume full respon-
sibilty for it, and while eventually
the cabinet will be consulted as a
whole, Just as the two members most
concerned are to be consulted on his
his return from Cornish, the final de-
cisiOn as to what Congress Is to be
asked to do will be his. This has
been his policy from the beginning of
his administration, it is pointed out.
and is to be adhered to in this case.
How soon the administration pro-
gram will be completed nobody
knows. 1t is believed, however. that
the President will hold the question
open until the last moment, in order
to take advantage OF changes in the
situation which may occur in Europe
during the fall months. For instance,
it is said that it would be quite
appropriate for him to discuss the
subject in general terms in his annual
address, and thus announce the basis
upon which he would like to have
legislation proceed, and then wait
until after the beginning Of the year
until winter is almost over
for a bill to be drafted.
On the other hand, there mlght pe
reasons for hurrying the legislature
through at the earliest possible
moment; reasons why Congress, In
the fall, should be called in special
session to consider the war situation
as 1t affects this country.
Basis for Program.
The President, 1t is understood, 10
to proceed with his defense program
on the theory that American relations
with Germany are not to be seriously
disturbed by anything that the
ensuing weeks and months produce.
But at the same time, If a crisis
should be brought about. Congress
would be convened, and the expan-
sion policy put up to 1t without delay.
In his determination to consult
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