The Arvada enterprise., 1916-02-24
members OF congress feel that they
must give 1t consideration.

President Wilson, 1t is said by his
friends, is sorry that he could not
carry his preparedness campaign Of
speech-making right into the heart Of
the country districts. MIR. Wilson
Knows that the agricultural districts
nave the opportunity to read his
speeches. but he feels, so his inti-
mates say, that the spoken appeal is
much more likely to have its effect
than the written appeal.
There seems to be belief in ad-
ministration circles that the residents
or the big towns generally are in favor
OF defense preparation. while the op-
position has its habitat largely In the
country districts. This may not be
true. but nevertheless It seemingly is
the view taken by most public men
who are constantly in receipt of let
ters from home
Not Partisan Issue.
1t must be understood that prepar-
edness is not wholly partisan issue.
the Democrats are divided on it. and
so are the Republicans. The presi
dent has made direct appeal that
political considerations be disregard
ed by members of congress and that
preparedness be looked upon wholly
as question of patriotism. II the
people of the agricultural districts are
opposed to preparedness. the presi-
dent probably thought that he might
q n NJ h,., nf
mouth appeal. If they are not op-
posed to it, it is his desire that the
dwellers on the farms and in the vii
lagos and smaller cities shall write to
their members of congress. urging
them to stand by the administration $
program.
1t has often been said that the let
ter-writing lobby is the best kind OF
lobby. and it certainly is a perfectly
proper kind of one. Congress could
learn in a week the actual views of a
majority of the people of the United
States on the subject of preparedness
If community meetings we're to be
held here and there to discuss the
subject. and the results Of the con-
fcrenccs could be telegraphed to the
congressman representing the differ
ent districts.
Peace Folks Very Busy.
There are men in Washington who
are doing their level best to induce
congressman to believe that all the
country dwe!lers in the land are op-
posed to preparedness. Students OF
the situation say that this is not true
by even third part. At any rate,
the matter seems to be in doubt. and
so it Is possible that some representa-
tives in congress, thinking that they
should vote as their constituents want
them to vote. may in the absence OF
direct news, vote counter to the
wishes of the voters who sent them
TO the national Legislature.
There is in Washington what is
called an anti-preparcdncss commit
tee. 1t is composed of laymen, large
iy OF the class known as paciiists, and
it is working as hard as It knows how
to prevent the passage Of prepared
ness measures by congress. This
committee has sent already thousands
upon thousands of appeals to farmers
throughout the land, asking them to
protest against any legislative action
looking to the putting of this country
into state of defense
Sentiment for Defense.
There is no telling ds yet what the
results OF these appeals will be. be.
cause time enough has not elapsed
10 have this campaign make itself
felt. but there are preparedness folk
here who say that the appeals will
fall largely on deaf ears and that more
than half of the men who are being
urged to write their congressman In
opposition TO preparedness actually
will write them in favor Of it.
Returns already are beginning to
come in from the middle West as the
result of the presidents last trip
through the country. There seems 10
be a wide difference of opinion as to
the result of the trip. Curiously enough.
men seem to view the thing with par.
usan and prcjudiccd eyes Republi.
cans largely say that the trip was not
"A success. while the Democrats say
II was huge success. There is prob.
ably one man In the United States
who knows definitely whether the trip
was success or not, and that man is
Woodrow Wilson. All public speakers
say that ass result OF their experience
they know when speech is ended
wh"hor or not their appeals to their
audience have struck home.
At any rate. today everything is more
or less probIcmatical The country
will know whether It is to have ade.
quat" preparedness or not when the
two measures have been voted on In
congress.
Fifty.FiVc Years 10 Flower.
Certain species Of bamboo flower