The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-12-14

preparedness in Congressman Kitchen
of North Carolina.
Mr. Kitchen is the ranking member
of the house on ways and means. He
is chairman of that cOmmitte in this
congress and as such succeeded Mr..
Underwood as floor leader of the dem
ocrats. He has never been an ultra
enthusiastic supporter of the presi-
dents policies. He was one of the
nineteen democratic representatives
bill; and his relations with the little
coterie of cabinet officers who have as
sumed to speak for the administration
have never been unduly intimate. His
brother, Ex-Governor Kitchin, wants to
be sanator from North Carolina in sue
cession to Senator Simmons, but the
White House favors Simmons-and
this does not contribute greatly to Con-
gresham Kitchin's zeal for Wilson.
In addition, Mr. Kitchin will have to
father the revenue bills which will
pay for PREPAREDNESS He is radical in
his views on protection; he is, in fact,
about as close to free trader as we
have in public life. And he is by no
means enamored of a talk favorable to
continuance of the duty on sugar.
Naturally, too, he dislikes to have his
name linked up with a measure pro-
viding for an issue of bonds Yet he
sees these necessities staring him in
the face and inevitable if any consid-
cradle measure of preparedness is
adopted. Consequently by convic-
ton, through political alignment, and
because of personly pride of opinion
Mr.. Kitchin's opposition to enlarge ex-
penditures for defense is logical and
natural His refusal to join the pres
ident is a serious matter
Both Mr.. Kitchin and the admins
tration will seek to soften the force
of the blow by declaring that the
North Carolian is acting ON his indi-
vidual responsibility and not as the
democratic leader of the house. This
may be true; but it is intimated here
that the president must be weakened
|
carry his floor leader with him on
policy which has such nationwide
support as preparedness has.
This, in fact, is the case: The pres
ident will not dominate the situation
this winter as he has heitherto done.
In 1914 the democrats in congress
were all candidates for reelection,
while the president had two clear
years ahead of him. The representa-
tives then needed him, while he was
measurably independent of them. Now
they are all in the same boat togther
They are all trying to hold their
places. The president must play the
game of congressman instead of ask
ing congressman to play his game
only.
So far as the defense program is con-
cerned, nothing can be done by the
president and his party alone Repub
lican votes will be necessary. Repub-
lican votes will be supplied, but it is
most unlikely that they will be forth
coming merely to ratify plan which
has been devised by the president and
his democratic political counsellors.
Mr. Kitchin, for instance, objects es-
pecially to the naval side of the presi-
dents plan. 1t is probable that re-
publicans also will object to it. Mr.
Kitchin objects because he is con-
sistent "little-nayy" advocate Repub-
licans will object because the plan, as
now outlined, lacks the support of the
naval experts whose opinion is entitled
to the greatest consideration.
/. The republicans in congress do not
regard Josephus Daniels views as en-
titled to larger weight than those of
the general board of the navy, and