Evening journal., 1915-11-29

WILSON, REPUBLICANS AND PREPAREDNESS.
rENHE announcement from the White Honse that Pres
Il dent Wilson Will confer" with Republican lead
regarding the legislation for national defense has
only one Interpretation in Washington II means that
Mr.. Bryan's following m Congress is sufficiently nu-
merous and vigorous to prevent the passage OF de-
Tense by Democratic votes alone and that
the control Of the situation will be in Republican hands
If the administration come to some understand
ing with Republican legislators
The White House announcement was aocomnanied bv
certain expressions TO the effect that the conference
is not TO be looked upon as bid for Republican sup
port and an attempt made to show that the Pres
dent had heretofore CONFERRED with Republicans upon
important legislation. The ant-trust law and the
banking law were especially named in this connection
The fact remains, however, that the President has
never conferred with Republicans except under stress
Of dire necessity When the banking bill was rapidlv
going on the rocks in the Senate meeting was brought
about between the President and Senator Weeks of
Massachusetts, and the Senator from his business
experience, able to demonstrate to Mr. Wilson some
of the faaces of the law it then stood But the
Presidents concessions neither complete nor cor
dial. He yielded as little he coud-and that grudg-
ingly
It is not believed that he will do more in regard to
defense legislation. While Il was not stated in so
many words the inference is plainly to be drawn from
the White House announcement and its concomtant
comment in we-authorzed quarters that the Presi-
dent is willing to be guided by suggestions Of Repub-
licans If they appeal his judgment In this light
the conference" may rank in history with a visit
which Senator Foraker paid to the White House in
Roosevelts term when the railroad rate bill was under
consideration. AS the Senator came away reporter
asked him what had taken place at the conference
which he had just had with the President. young
man." answered Foraker do you call It conference
where only person does all the tallsing?"
The indicated personnel of the conference how
ever, that the talking will not be all on one
side Senator Ganger and Representative Mann have
been advocates Of an adequate national defense when
the President and his party opposed to il; and
II is not probable that these will consent to aban-
don measures which they have heretofore espoused in
order to swallow in toto the plan which Mr. Wilson
has proposed and to which there arc many and valid
criticisms as to its efficacy and workabeness Nor are
they at all likely to lend themselves to any scheme
which will permit the President TO make use of pa
trotlc Republican support now and enable his party
later to claim the result additional argument
for continuing the Democracy in power
In addition, It is probable When the proposed Con
ference is held that the President will be bluntly ask
ed if he is asking Republican aid TO pull him out Of
the preparedness pit into which has fallen and at
the same time intends to favor coture in the Senate
in order to facilitate the passage of a ship purchase
bill
And Of there will be an rrepressble inquiry
to how the President intends 10 get tho money
which he now wishes to spend the army and navy
and whether he intends TO enforce economy upon his
extravagant feow-De Democrats in Congress as a means
OF helping to carry the financial burden OF national
defense
These suggestions readily occur 10 those who at
tempt TO visualize the proposed "conference'-which
but for the Presidents anteceden acts would be hailed
genuine OF patriotic consideration of the ma
tion's needs.