The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-09
PRESIDENT GETS ASSURANCES OF
 6. OPP. SUPPORT
Senator Gallinger Favors National Defense Plan,
 Says Statement.
CONFERENCE HELD
 AT WHITE HOUSE
Republican Leaders Will Aid Program, If Not Held
 As Party Issue.


 Washing gton, Dec s9-Presi dent Vii son yesterday made known his opposi- ton to the plan favored by some of the Democratic. leaders of Congress to make the national defense pro- grarnrne "a partisan measure He Ject of preparing the country against any contingency arising from foreign aggression be treated as a patriotic undertaking to Senator Galinger of New Hampshire, the Republican lead- CT of the Upper House.
 The Republican leader called at the " hite House by invitation and spent as half hour with the Presd dent At the conclusion of the interview Sem atbr GaI1inger made this statement.
 Meet on Common Ground
 sT had a very pleasant interview with the President We discussed several matters that will come up for consideration at this session of Con gress, especially the question of plac- ing thef Nation upon an adequate basis of defense. On the proposition to consider the subject as a patriot and not a partisan one, we met on common ground. 1.-The President and both favor the consideration of the plans of the Administration without reference to politics.
 President Wilson said he had no idea of making the subject of pre-
 
 that the only way to prevent it from being partisan is to keep 1t out of the, Demoeratic caucus.
 The Presi dent said he would dis approve any Democratic caucus ac7 ton on the national defense measure.
 We did not, Of course, discuss or agree upon the details of the und der- taking The manner in which ade- quate Congressional provision is to be made to carry out the general idea 7nfJ dent sthat am inclined u provide for larger standing army than is. favor ed by either him or Seer etary Garri-l son. also informed him that in addition to his national. programme, would support any prop posOtion to. make our battleHeet stronger We did not go into the matter of raising revenues to provide the means for the defense project or of providing a mer- ehA1k marine as was recommended by the President" "
 Ref1ects Republican Sen6fment
 Repubrfcan members of both Houses agree in the statement that. in his as- .srfra1rces to the President, Senator GaIlinger aErnrately reflects the sen tixnent of the oT eTss7 he ming majority of his party in both Houses of Con- gross As naatterFof fact, there is less uncertainty even afaong the supp porters of the President, regarding the attitude Of the Republicans to- ward fte Presidents plan for safe enarcing the Nation than is to be ex- pected from a. faction of his own par tE
 are in favor of even more elaborate and expensive military and naval es-s tabIfsh1n euts than that suggested by the Pread dent in his address to Con- slightest doubt, however that failing to secure shbstanfia1 increases in both branches of the armed service, the Republicans finally will accept the most liberal prDvisions to be obtained, unless of course, the Democratic ma 5ority invests the controversy with a partisan aspect and provokes poH- ftca1 division over it.
 The Democratic opponents of the Presidents plan, headed by Senatorial President Pro Tenn Clarke of Arkarl- sas and Majority Leader KitcI1in of crete evidence of their purpose to compel the treatment of the national defense plan as an administration or party measure.
 Opponerrts for Caucus.
 One of the features of the method favored by them is to call a caucus soma time next month. or in February
 -or as soon, in fact as the admins .tratior bills have been introduced in
 
 ready had indicated their opposition to this schema, before Senator Gall fingers conference with the Presi- dent There is not the slightest doubt that if the Democratic leaders, oppos- ing the Administration program, sue ceed in their effort to make it a cau- GUS measure, the Republican minority Of 43 out of the 96 Senators and 196 out of the 435 members of the lower House will be arrayed soHdIy against 1t.
 The Presidents supporters in his own party, at the present time, <are not apprehensive of such a crisis They have reason to believe that in the Senate more than 35 of the 56 members of their party will oppose any move to make the defense plan a caucus measure.
 Tn the lower House. despite the ad- rnitted influence of Ma jority Leader Kitchin and other members of the party who subscribe to the doctrine of former Secretary of State Bryan, a majority Of the Democratic members it is believed will indorse the agree rnent reached between the President and Senator GaHingers
 Think wilson Urged Minimum.
 Senators and Congressmen of both parties representing the New England and Atlantic coast, Gulf and Pacific coast states already have expressed themselves in favor of legislation [ making provision for national de- fenese plan. them tniInnn of which, in their view. was urged upon Congress by the President.
 1t is not probable that any move will be made by either side much be- fore the middle fof January or the be- ginning of February, so that the rival forces will be afforded ample time in which to manoeuvre for the advan- tage.
 The first step toward preparing the two measures ernbody1ng the plans of the Administration will be made on Friday by Chairman Hay of the Com maaittee on Military Affairs. when he EVil1 offer for printing a tentative bill previdinE for the increase. of the