The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-11-24
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REPUBLICAN AID NECESSARY

respOndence) THE first conspicuous
volunteer to report to Mr.. Bryan's
camp for the fight on the presidents
proposals for preparedness is Con-
gresham Kitchin OF North Carolina.
Mr.. Kitchin is the ranking member
OF the house committee on ways and
means. He will be chairman of that
committee in the next congress and
as such will succeed Mr.. Underwood
Us floor leader of the democrats. He
has never been an nltra.enthusiastic
supporter OF the presidents policies.
He was one OF the nineteen democrat.
ic representatives who voted against
the ship purchase bill; and his rela.
tiOns with the littlcscoterie of cabinet
officers who have assumed TO speak
for the administration have never been
unduly intimate. His brother, ex.
Governor Kitchin, wants to be senator
from North Carolina in succession to
Senator Simmons, but the white house
favOrs SinlmOns-and this does not
contribute Greatly to Congressman
Kitchin's zeA for Wisconsin. 81.
In addition, Mr.. Kitchin will have
to father the revenue bills which will
pay for preparedness. He is radical
in his views OF protection; he Is, in
fact, about as close to a free-trader
as we have in public life. And lie is
by no, means enamOred OF the talk fay-
orable to ascontinuance Of the duty on
sugar. Naturally too he disltkes to
have his name linked up with meas.
ure providing for an issue of bonds.
, Yet he sees these necessities staring
him in the face and inevitable if any
considerable measure of preparedness
is adopted.
Consequently, by conviction. through
political alignment, and because Of
personal pride OF opinion, Mr.. Kitch.
ms opposition TO enlarged expendi.
| lures for defense is logical and natur.
al. His refusal to join the president
is serious matter.
Both Nj. kitcfin and the admins
tration will seek to soften the force OF
| the blow by declaring that the North
Carolinian is acting on his individual
Responsibility and not as the democrat
ic leader of the liouse. This may be
true: but 1t is minated hero that the
president must be weakened indeed
before congress il he cannot carry his
door leader with him on policy which
has such nationwide support as pre-
paredness has.
This. in fact, is the case. The pres
ident will not dominate the situation
| this winter as he has hitherto done.
In 1914 the democrats in congress
we're all candidates for reelection.
while the president had two clear
years ahead of him. The represent
atiyes then needed him, while he was
measureably independent of them.
Now they are all In the same boat to-
Eether. They are all trying to hold
their places. The president must play
the game of congressman instead OF
asking congressman to play his game
only.
So far as the defense program IS
concerned nothing can be done by the
president and his party alone. Re.
publican votes will be necessary. Re
publican votes will be supplied, but 1t
is most unlikely that they will be
Forthcoming merely to ratify q plan
which has been devised by the presi-
dent and his democratic political coun-
sellers.
MT. hlLCnlu, AOT IhoIauSC' oD3Sc''
especially to the naval side OF the
presidents plan. 1t is probable that
Republicans also will object to it. Mr..
Kitchin objects because he is con-
sistent little navy" 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 in4congress do not
regard Joseph Daniels views as en-.
titled to larger weight than those OF
tho general board of the navy, and
they will probably decline to follow
Mr.. Daniels In preference to Admiral
Dewey.
In short If the defense program
must be put through by republican
votes, 1T is only fair that republicans
should be permitted to say what the
program should be. Heretofore, MT.
Wilson has been impatient OF sug-
Restions arising from republican sourc-
Is. Now, if he Is sincere, he must
deal with republicans on a patriotic,
not partisan, basis. Otherwise, he
must face defeat in congress for ma
tional preparedness and defeat at the
polls for himself.
III -------------
The popular idea of preparedness
for Christmas consists in going out on
shopping trip the day before tho
2, s.S-ss .,,S,o.. ,oS,orv cVorlr hac about