The Detroit times., 1916-06-08
Wilson'S Political Strength.


of the primary campaign is the al
most universal belief that. il the
election were held Today, President
Wilson would he trlumphantly re-
turned.
This uttcrance Is not that or a
Democratic ttatterer. II is taken
from The Philadelphia North Amer
lean. Bull Moose newspaper, at
present urging the nomination OF
Col. Roosevelt by the Republicans.
The North American has on many
occasions bitterly attacked Wilson,
II has echoed the colonel's charges
against the administration-that II
has been timid, vacillating. un-Amer-
lean. Yet II will not stupidity shut
its eyes TO the facts. Il detects a
rapid reversal OF opinion in favor
OF Wilson. ana goes or soherly TO
array The evidences OF his political
strength, There are first, the pri-
mary elections and the various
straw votes. These show remark
able Wilson gains" A striking
change OF sentiment concerning Mr..
Wilson was reported months ago
by commercial travellers. II Is ad-
mitted that the administration has
an unusual record 10 appeal 10. The
currency legislation has popular ap-
proval." Chief OF all is the fact that
The country ~ highly prosperous. 1t
ought not TO be. Of course, under a
Democratic tariff; and the Repub-
Leans will assert that IL Is the Euro
pcin war that saved us; but the
actual state OF industry. with the
high wages paid, and work. found
for all, will, the North American con.
fesses. deprive the tariff issue Of It's
customary deadly effect" All told,
II concludes that those practiced OBJ
servers OF political affairs are not
far wrong who agree that President
Wilson has imposing chances OF re
election"
Alongside this testimony. notable
for its source. may be placed the
letter in this weeks Outlook on
Political Thinking in the Middle
West" by ex-senator Davenport. AS
a former Progressive and Roose-
welt follower today. he finds much
TO discourage him in the region
which he has been visiting. The
people there are not in heroic mood.
There is lethargy OF the demo
cratic spirit" The voters have not
been reused to positive convic-
tons And note this depressing
conclusion.
one thing - clear to me from tho
investigation of this centre OF old
time American democracy, The move
ment toward national discipline ana
preparation, which Ia every day be-
coming more certain as the chief
presidential Issue. ia not this time
coming up from the grass roots,
Even the Western farmers seem back
temporarily into the Old Glory Ike
publican and the fried-meat Demo
crat class. Opposed To change! And
as for the laboring class In the Md
die West, IL never received such high
wages, and was never so prosperous.
II IL rejecting. not 40 much upon the
country as upon creature comfort.
More to the present point is what
Nj Davenport writes OF the senti-
merit about Wilson. Whoever
thinks that President Wilson has
not great following in the middle
west has other guesses coming II
would be easy to uncover a volume
OF testimony favorable TO the Wilson
point OF view of keeping away from
war, II possible, on the ground that
Was Is the greatest calamity which
can be'all a nation" That must be
gall and NORWOOD TO true Roose-
veltian. And then think of having
to take such dose AZ this There
is a strong feeling among the Demo.
Gratis OF the middle west that VII
son IN history is TO stand for tho
patience and persistence OF Lin
coin"
II would be q very different story
if political inquiry had been made
IN and about New York city. Here
NO doubt. Wilson stock went far
lower than in other parts of the
country, and had not as yet recov-
cred so much or the loss. \ prose
can be thrust in almost anywhere
and discover sentiment against vii
son which is strong. bitter. and even
contemputOus. II is hereabcuts that
the sharpest attacks have been
made upon him. here that his weak
ness. his cowardice. his pusillani.
nous conduct have been most harp.
cd upon. The result has been 20
set up a sort of artificial Wilson In
the public mind. a figure SO craven
and feeble that 10 imagine that he
could be elected president again
was ridiculous. So that TO New
Workers. the accommodating proof that
Wilson is really strong with the
country as whole must come as a
great surprise The clubs and the
exchanges knew nothing OF Il, and
will undoubtedly, at first, be in
clined 10 take a low view Of the in
telligence and patriotism OF the rest
Of the country. But facts are facts,
and il does no good TO blink them,
No one who seeks to keep his eyes
open 10 them will deny that Tresi.
dent Wilson has been rapidly recov-
ering popularity during the past few
months. This may not last. Acct
dent or mistake may weaken him.