The Washington times., 1915-04-14
Virtually Places President in
Nomination for Reelection
at Banquet.
ADMINISTRATION IS LAUDED
Jefferson Day Dinner Really One
Prolonged Demonstration for
Executive.

National leaders of the Democratic
Administration made vigorous de-
fense Of the Wilson Administration at
tho annual dinner Of the Jefferson Club.
Also, they fired the opening guns Of the
1916 Presidential campaign, lauding
Wilson as the emancipator of the plain
people and the guardian Of the nations
peace, virtually placing the President
In the field as a candidate for re-elec-
ton,
Secretary Of State Bryan uttered what
was interpreted as his acceptance OF
Wilson's candidacy. He said that the
American public would continue to in
dorse the doctrines crystallized into law
in the last two years unless he misun-
derstood public sentiment.
The Wilson boom was further accent
uated by former Congressman A.
Mitchell Palmer. leader of the Penn
sylvania Democracy. At a reception
which preceded the dinner he stood with
Secretary Bryan and shook hands with
a long line of Democrats from New
York. New Jersey. Delaware. Mary
land and every section Of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Palmer said he would be satisfied
il he We're as sure of d seat in heaven
as he was satisfied that Woodrow Will
son would be the choice of the next
Democratic national convention.
Cheers For President.
The dinner itself was one prolonged
demonstration for Wilson, with every
Nf ha "A
demonstration.
dudley Field Malone collector OF the
port of New York, led the way in praise
Of the Wilson Administration.
Secretary Bryan. In a denunciation Of
Wall Street and of nlibuster practices
In the United states Senate. departed
from his usual reticcnCe on foreign re-
iations affairs and discussed the ma
tloI attitude On Mexico and the Euro
pean war An outstanding feature of
his remarks OH Mexico, in which he re-
ferred to the Mexican situation as a
heritage of the Taft Administration, was
his assertion that there was on file in
the State Department a telegram from
ex-Presldent Huerta to ex-President
naft. sent in the closing days Of the
tart Administration, in which the former
Mexican dictator wrote laCUniCally: Il
have overtnro"n the government"
AS to currency legislation, the Secre-
tary held that the new system had re-
stored to the Government the sovereign
right of issuing paper mpney. This was
the idea of jefferson. he averred. since
JeHerson denounced bank currency.
Cd we had formerly condition where
few men held dcspotic sway over poll
tics and business, he continued. Less
than 100 men il New York could give
the country prosperity or panic. The
Republican party never dared even to
promise relief. They promised relief on
the tariff question, but did not keep their
promise. Instead OF one financial center
Today, where you have to beg on your
kneea, we have twelve centers linked up
with Washington We can do business
today in the daylight. Never since the
time Of Jefferson have we had such
emancipation from the domination of
concentrated wealth.
Praises Wilson.
At this point Mr.. Bryan got close to
the subject of President Wilson's pro-
posed second term.
DO you think that any President
could go into office without promise or
obligation to any one? Is 1t possible that
he will not win for his party enormous
strength asked the Secretary.
Secretary BRYAN said one further step
toward government bv the people must
be taken in correction Of Senate prac-
tices by which legislation is held up
through prolonged speeches.
On revertinG to Mexico, Secretary
Bryan SAID President Wilson refused
manner in which he ascended to the Of
flee of President. The keynote of the
Mexican policy. he held, was the fact
that President Wilson had saved the
country from great war, which would
have wasted the blood Of the nation.
I'VE have a generation which has not
known war; he continued, and It may
have been impatient with the waiting
policy Of patient President But we
have seen enough in the last eight
months to show us the horrors OF war
and to demonstrate that we have no
desire to intervene in Mexico, unless
as last resort We have maintained
neutraiity IN the worlds greatest war
Every nation involved has lost more
men in eight months than we lost in
four wears of the civil war"
War Tax Defended.
Collector Malone took up the Govern
ment's fiscal policies. In particular he