New-York tribune., 1916-01-29
New York Trip HeartenS
Wilson in Quest for
Converts.
DEMOCRATS AWAIT
JOURNEYS RESULT
Own Party Must Be Swung Into
Line II Defence Campaign
Is to Succeed.

Washington. Jan. 2S.-Heartened by
his experiences In New York yestsrd"'
and by the evidences Of change IN
the attitude Of Congress since he pc
gan active support OF the prepared
ness programme. President wilson iel'
here at iO:45 o'clock tonight Tor MS
campaign in the Middle West
Politicians at the Capitol who are
waiting 70 see the results Of the fres'-
dent's efforts before they commit them
selves will watch the tour with the
d.enest interest The lining mp OF the
Middle West against preparedness has
bsen going on so long and so success
fully that many fear that the N'''o"
-our comes too late. But the mere an
nouncemeut that he was going into 'Ne
aeld has already had great influence
on Congress. and II evidence appears
hat Mr Wilson Is winning converts
ne situation may have very dii-
serent aspec, by the time he returns
next Friday.
First Address in Pittsburgh To-day
The first address viii be IN Pitts
burrh tomorrow afternoon. where the
President will make long speech at q
meeting arranged especially for him
and another to an overflow meeting
After that he Will 90 TO Cleveland
Milwaukee, Chicago. Des Moines, To-
peka, Kansas City and 81. Louis, max
ing brief platform speeches en- route
Il Waukegan. H.; KenOsha, Wis; Ra-
cine. Wis: Davenport, Iowa City. Grin
nell and Newton. Iowa; Lawrence
Kan. and East s.. Louis. Tomorrow
night he will speak in Cleveland,
where he will remain over Sunday
The tone Of the Presidents New
York speeches was almost universally y
approved among the preparedness ad-
vocates OF the Democratic party, ana
only less so by the Republicans. Nnlie
he latter did not indorse his remarks
about the tariff and other partisan
questions. they agreed that the force OF
the speeches was none too great 70
meet the demands of the situation. u
IS understood that the Western speeches
will take at least as vigorous a tohe'
and that before the President returns
he will have covered fully points on
preparedness which 10 did not nave
time 20 touch last night.
Mr.. Wilson's friends are looking Tor
,ysrc 20 this tour in the hope that 1t
win give opportunities for the Presi-
dent TO meet directly many Of the at
lacks on his administration. He VII! be
in cities where the German vote IS
strong. in cities where the pacihsts
have large following. in country
towns where the Roosevelt supporters
are rampant and in farming states
where the fear OF additional taxes IS
controlling motive. He can strike dl-
rectly at the source Of many OF the
criticisms of the administration and
many Of the obstacles which lie IN the
path Of the defence programme HIS
friends are hoping that he will do so,
and predict that II he does It viii go
far toward bringing him the political
strength he will need 20 win ms night
against Bryan.
Needs Democratic Converts.
The chief result these friends hope
for is the stifening OF the Democrats
here Many who were for preparedness
last fall have changed sides anu DINERS
show signs of changing. II the Presi-
dent can arouse the voters and change
the tone Of the food OF mail when the
Legislators are receiving from their
constituents he will have gone tar
toward saving the programme. The Re
publicans are. on the whole. much more
inclined toward adequate defence p.ar
than the Presidents own party follo.
ers. and 10 will help more 10 aroa
Democrats than TO attempt to get
publican support.
The Bryauites and pacinsts are o..
watching the tour closely, hoping tna
il will mark the collapse OF the PIE
paredness fight. They count OH the
fact that the President goes into dis
tricts which are largely hostile 10 his
plans and in part hostile 10 him per
, sonally, and predict that he will return
convinced that the fight must either
be dropped or the programme so great
ly modified that it will lose the sup
port Of the real defence advocates.
How the people take President VII
sons appeal will be studied closely by
n representative of the anti-prepared-
ness committee. which has opened
Headquarters in this city, and is con-
l,,..tr, oct,,-o 20 r,1ppfpu