The Washington times., 1915-10-31
Committee Meeting Expected to
Reveal Extent Wilson's
Friends May Manage It.
BRYAN EXPECTED TO FIGHT
But It Is Not Believed Split in
Congress viii Prevent Presi-
dents denomination.

with the announcement that the
Democratic National Committee VIII
meet here on December to decide on
the place for holding the next Democra-
tic national convention. Administration
officials are showing the first signs OF
lively interest In the 1916 campaign.
Owing to the European war. interest in
domestic national politics has been un-
usually apathetic. Usually politics is
the principal topic OF conversation In
official circles for at least a year be-
fore the conventions are held.
Members of Congress are already be-
ginning to arrive in washington for the
coming session. and by the time the
national committee meets the session
will have started with national defense
and Government ownership OF merchant
ships well in front as the big political
LEGISLATION Of the session.
Bitter Fight Expected.
1t is expected that the meeting of the
committee will develop at the outset
the extent to which the management Of
the 1916 campaign will be left to the
Presidents friends on the committee In
1917 the management of the campaign
rested largely In the hands Of Chair
man william +. McCombs and William
9. McAdoo. In view of the fact, how
ever. that there will be a great many
changes in the new committee, it re-
mains to be seen what the arrange
ments will be. 1t was recalled today
that in 1872 some friction developed be-
tween McCombs and McAdoo. which
lasted after the election and gave rise
to various reports that McCombs would
resign chairman Of tho nm tiop co,,,-
mittee.
Despite the bitter fight which forme,
Secretary Of State William ]. Bryan /,
expected to make through his Demo
Administrations national defense pro
gram. the Presidents friends do not an
ticipate that the split will be of SUM-
cient seriousness to prevent the Presi
dents denomination. At tho same tim,
II Is probable that care will be taken II
the organization Of the national commit
tee to see that there is no slip-up in tn
management Of the convention.
Pence May Become Secretary.
The principal vacancy In the list Of of
ficers Of the committee at this time 4
that Of secretary. This position ha
never been filled since Joseph f. Davies
Of Wisconsin,. resigned to become chair
man Of the Federal Trade Commission
Thomas J. Pence. chairman of the sub
committee on publicity. a close friend o
the President. who. 1t is expected. will
be regularly named to the position o
secretary when the national committe
meets.
1t is expected that the Democrat
convention will be held in June. befor
that of the Republicans. 1t being Gus
tom. rarely violated. that the party 4
power should be the first to hold its con
vention. The principal card which tn
Democrats are expected to rely on /
get the popular vote for the President
the fact that he has kept the Unite
States out Of the European war, Thi.
1t Is thought. will prove particularly
strong II the war In Europe continue
through next fall. On the other hanC
II 1t does not, the Democratic leader
are hoping that the President will hav
sufficiently preserved his attitude befor
the world as to play a star part in tn
peace ne~otiations and win the credit G
bringing the war to a close.
The Republicans. whose national com
mittee meets here about week afte
the Democratic committee does. are eS
pected to rely on the criticisms Of tn
: Mexican policy and the one-term plan
In the Democratic platform.