Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-04
SECRET OPPOSITION
BY FOES OF WILSON
Enemies Within Party Begin Propa
ganda to Block Nomi-
nation.
HIS FRIENDS KNOW OF FIGHT


Purpose Is to Name Clark, With
Presidents Acknowledgements
OF Congress May Give Executive
Chance to Tour Country and Talk.
NEW YORK. January 3.--The New
York Evening Post. under the caption,
Wilson's Enemies Fight Him in Sc
cret, published the following story.
under Washing ton da.elinc, yesterday:
"a definite propaganda against Presi-
dent Wilson and his administration is
now In circulation throughout the coun-
try. 1t Is regarded thus far as the
output OF the wcll-known Democratic
opponents OF the President, who OPP
posed His nomination in the first place.
who have given him grudging support,
ana who arc out to defeat him for re-
nomination and recollection In 1916.
Notwithstanding the fact that II is
the belief of all genuine Democratic
leaders In Washington that President
wilson must be rcnominatcd In 1916 as
the best hope" of the party at the
presidential election, the propaganda
now In force has for Its sole purpose
demonstration OF the theory enter
tanned by the Presidents opponents
1
nominated. he cannot he elected.
Up TO this time there have been
few signs OF political activity on the
part of the Presidents friends. The
propaganda against the administration,
conducted along much the Same lines
as used In n similar campaign against
President Taft when he was in the
White House, is proceeding practically
unchecked.
at is a mistake. however. to assume
that il is passing unnoticed In admin
istration circles. On the contrary. no
step on the part of the opponents OF
tho President is being overlooked, and
sooner or later a day OF reckoning will
come.
president Wilson has done less
travelling out OF Washington than any
OF his recent predecessors. He has had
Congress on his hands almost incos-
sanity since he came into the White
House. He has devoted himself to the
completion OF the Democratic IeRisla-
tive program promised by the Balti-
more platform.
when the President does go to the
country and show himself he will go
OH the basis OF actual performances
rather than OH promises to be kept or
broken promises to be explained. The
strength of this position cannot he
overestimated in the opinion OF the
Presidents friends.
u
tion is bending every effort to have the
legislative program of Congress COM
plcted By March 4, 80 that adjourn
ment can be made without a special
session this year. If nothing unforc-
soon shall happen. Congress may be
permitted to go home March until
the regular session next December.
something that has not happened In
Washington aimee 1907.
Unless the war shall produce some
complex situation requiring the entire
time of the President In Washington
during this long breathing space, il Is
not violent assumption that the
President will be seen and heard by the
country during the coming summon.
, Ii the President has In mind pre-
sentation OF the views Of the adminis-
tration on the State Of the Union, there
lis II no more logical time In sight than
the coming summer. year from now
presidential politics Will begin to boil.
and in June, 1916, the delegates to the
various national conventions will con-
venc 10 select nominees OF all parties
for the presidency.
There Will be no opportunity be-
tween the adjournment of the long
session OF Congress that year and the
conventions for the President to be
heard. Following the nominations, ex-
ccpt for the usual letters OF acceptance
OF nominations and other additional
Il campaign, IL has not been customary
for Presidents In Office TO speak
Assuming that President Wilson will
he renominated by his party. the COM
ing summer offers his only real oppor-
tunity to appear before the American
people In complete review OF the
work done by him and his party. Even
If not rcnominated, the logic OF tho
situation remains the same, for no
President has yet left the White House
without such presentation.
All the present time II is understood
that the President will participate In
the official opening of the Panama
Canal and OF the San Francisco Fair
this spring. If possible. Should he do
so. 1t is likely he will avail himself Of
the opportunities afforded by the re-
turn trip across the country to make n
number of addresses on topics con-
necied with his administration.
such trip would give the President
a chance to appear before Western
crowds for the first time since his In
auGuration and to cXpound to them
first hand, the policies which his ad-
ministration has endeavored to carry
out with respect to conservation. irri-
CATION. reclamation, tho tariff and other
political topics OF tho greatest interest
TO that section.
Likewise. in the Central West, the
tariff. the currency, postal legislation
and administration, river and hurbor
improvements, and other subjects easily
suggest themselves as OF interest. The
Mexican policy and the endeavors to
maintain the neutrality of the nation
in the European war. together with tho
efforts OF the administration to change
the laws OF business and to build up
foreign trade. are subjects upon which
all parts OF the country Will expect to
hear from the President when lie gets
ready to speak.
I'm the meantime. tho propaganda
against the President may be expected
to continue with undated, IL not in
ereasing, viGor. AT the present time, it
has reached such heights rs n definite
proposal that Speaker Champ Clark be
nominated by the Democrats by and
with the advice and consent of Prcsl-
dent Wilson himself.
TO date, MIR. Clark Is on record as
predicting the denomination of Presl-
dent Wilson. President Wilson has not
made any predictions about anybody
including himsclf