New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-04
WILSON BACKFIRE
CORNERS BRYAN
President Dlspels Awe for
Former Aid in the
Middle West.
PEOPLE SEEKING
NEW LEADERS
Party Lines Shattered and De-
fence Has Galned-Wife
Helped Crusade.
from . star cornponaent Of IL. rdbnn,

Iron stan Correspondent o. Tho Tribune
On President Wilson's special train.
indianapolis, Feb. 3.-President Wilson
is on his way back to Washington to-
night after his week on She stump in
an appeal 20 the country for support
Of his defence programme. He Is in
q compGrably stronger than when he
started. He has gained in every way
support for his policy. personal popu-
larity, political standing and leader
ship. and most important Of all, in his
ability TO reach and move the people.
The most striking single fact OF his
trip has been his growing power over
HIS audiences, the increased leadership
which nc has shown from day 20 day,
especially since his fighting spirit was
aroused in Topeka
The purposes and results Of the trip
naturally divide along two lnes-pre-
paredness and politics In both the re-
suits have been favorable 70 Mr.. VIII
son. The situation is 20 complex that
they must be counted as tendencies
rather than accomplishments. II must
be remembered, too, that only small
part OF the country has been touched,
though IL Is part which, while on the
whole considered strongly against pre-
paredness. includes all forms Of opin-
ions except the do-nothingncss Of the
South. This the President will meet
when he makes a second trip, such as
is tentatively planned to start from
Washington a week from tomorrow.
People Await New Leaders.
The most striking fact Of the situa-
ton IN the states covered IS the com
nieteress with which party lines have
been cut across by the issues which
are now 10 the front and the utter lack
of leadership which the people feel.
Old leaders are forgotten. or. II, rs I'D
Roosovelt's case. they arc again com
ing TO the front, ~ is with new follow
ings and often 20 face the opposition
Of their old supporters. The people
are ready and waiting for new standard
bearers, mtu who can stand out and
voice the haii formed opinions they
cannot express, some one VINO can
crystalline them into action and encci.
The President left Washington with
big whole preparedness programme 10
the balance Congressman deserving
daily. his plans opposed IN his own
party both as q whole and ~ detail,
the reports from the section he was TO
visit carrying increasing tidings Of
opposition and the politicians convinced
that complete disaster was az hand
lie has gone 20 the people and as he
closes his trip It's results may be sum
married. as follows:
lie has started the country thinking
along new lines. From the hrst'
whether his addresses moved the
crowds or not, his words have sunk m
and they have stayed the TIDE Whleh
was setting against him.
lie has aroused the people on me
preparedness question. IL Was not ae-
batabie subject with many OF them az
first. now l. is. This issue, wherever
he has spoken, has been made the fore
most topic Of discussion.
lie has won converts. How many
they arc will not he known for weeks,
IA his campaign was At first Of the
kind that needs time 70 bear frult.
Some are already declared.
Backfre Should Show in Congress.
He has started a backhre that should
soon show In Congress. His appeals
have been for action. and his converts,
however many they may be, VIII do
tomethinc. Since Congressman have
etroug tendency 20 be swayed by the
few direct communications they get
from their constituents, this strategy
Of his is likely TO produce large re-
suits.
lie has demonstrated that prepared
ness Is not beaten even in the Middle
West. The growing size, interest and
enthusiasm Of the crowds may be partly
due TO his own efforts on this tIip.
But everywhere It has been found that
the opposition was vocal, wnile me
support was almost silent-that the
real sentiment for defence was stronger
than it sounded, and that nowhere was
the communty's sentiment fixed.
As already stated the outstanding
fact Of the political situation is the
disruption Of the parties through this
part of the country. Other factors
here are:
President Wilson is not dead The
Republican leaders who have been
boasting that they could beat him with
any ore-even an almost unknown
party hack. whose strength would be
his obscurity-have been deceiving all
who believed them. Through much OF
this country Wilson would to-day get
Republican votes. lie is not invulner-
able here. but he is TO be beaten only
by a leadership az least as virile and
vigorous as his own.
Bryan is 90 dead around here that
he veneration and awe in which he is
still held in Washington seem little
more than Il ridiculous superstition.
The anti-preparedness sentiment is not
his doing-he is merely trying TO use 1t,
and the very men who indorse his stand
are not looking 20 him as a leader.
Among the Republicans the one cry
Is for Hughes. Everywhere he Is looked
10 as me one man who can surely beat
Wilson. unite the factions and lead
them 20 victory
Wilson Helped Roosevelt.
Roosevelt IS coming back. but has not
arrived. Among the leaders his 1912
performances still rankle. though they