The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-20
BRYAN OPENS WAR
On THE RRES.!!.g!!.E.!I!!.I!!l
VIII Tour the Country And
Reply TO His Former
Chief.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2o-President
wilson and William j. Bryan are to
ioels horns on the subject Of prepared
ness ia 8 series Of public appeals to
the country. The President made
known his Intention to take the issue
70 ttie people direct. following yester-
days cabinet meeting. Representative
warren Worth Bailey OF Johnstown,
Pa. announced that Mr.. Bryan would
be heard in support Of his peace pro-
paganda. The famous debates OF 1858
between Abraham Lincoln and steph-
en- A. Douglas may be equalled in in
terest when these Democratic rivals.
both aghttng for control Of the Demo
critic party carrying their fight to
me country.
The contest between the President
ana M. Bryan IS to go the limit, Right
now M. Bryan has the upper hand In
congress on the preparedness issue.
rhe Frestdent Is nghting not only to
save his nat onal defense program, but
10 ,wrest control Of the Democratic
Marty rom the man who three times
Tas nominated for the presidency and
NOW ioomsil arge ina contest that may
make Questionable the Presidents re-
nominal ion in St Louis next June.
Repfesentatiye Bailey, Mr.. Bryans
suok esmafis here denies that the form
Il cabinefim is bent on carrying
fi,e figfit to- the National Convention
l,Tt eFioIs.nind led, Democrats admit
ffisswiifS the outcome OF the prepar-
edness fight. One prominent Demo
cratic member OF the senate touSs
predicted that the st. Louis conven-
tion would result in split even worse
than that encountered by the hepupll,
can party In 1912. Despite ef1orts Oh
Democrat leaders to contine the an
ference OF the President and Mr.
bryan to thejpreparedness issue, there
* every ndication that the lgnt Is
but the beginning of a contest tna ~
win decide which Of the two men IS
the actual leader of the party.
Democrats in Congress VINO are
eiassed neither as Wilson nor Bryan
men admit that Mr.. Bryan's strength
within the party has been underestt-
mated. that Mr.. Bryan lost none OF ms
Doiffical prestfg e In retiring as secre-
fary DC state {atga tical period IN the
neeotiat lions with Germany over the
esr,ibmarfne Issue; and that in reafty
iie was tower Of strength to the
President in getting results from Eon-
rress while he was "a member OF tne
cabinet. These Democrats point 10
die fact that since Mr.. Bryan left the
osbinet The President has been less
~ III in handling the majority
4, s'ssonersss, partic ularly in the House,
ana thai &c was Mr.. organs influence
mat brought about much OF the legls'
isfion that Isl now pointed TO Win
pride by the administration.
Rnmors were current in Washlng.
ron today that Mr.: Bryan would tran
fhe President In his Countrywide tour
and that siieiwould appear in every city
ss,d Town visited by Mr.. Wilson. hep-
Teflanfatfye# Bale denied that he nao
snid MI. Bryan would attempt to iol-
1ow tiIe Presid ent,s itinerary, but ne
a5in,iffed that ar. Bryan had indi-
, s,,sfed Ia hinSins a letter that he was
xgfIiine 10 20 any place at any tiEne
mat his friends believed necessary 70
fufther his peace ideas" Mr. Bailey
said tonight: 90
Il nave reliable information that
Nh. BRYAN Intends making a appeal
direct toi the eople for their support
ia i,is efforts to prevent this govern
Inent from entering upon milttarlstle
nrnefan: HesWillE take the stump Just
~ f6e Presid ent will do, and in this
~9av 7the public will hear the argu-
ant s. tie lead erss of both sides. II
e not my understanding that MT.
prgan proposes following the Presl-
fient about the country, although u
sSotiid not be strange IL he should hap
nen Ia sneak in many cities that the
sresi6enf haakyisited. 1t would only
he natnraI that the people OF New
York altar hearing the Presidents ap-
oeai. would ike to hear Mr.. Bryan's
Tiews.f
NE BaiIey's significant statement
ehnt ME-. Bryan proposes to speak IN
New York city IS accepted by the ad-
tifnistratio ion followers to mean that
since The Presid entT has made def
into New cement, Mr.. Bryan
win not oyerlook the opportunity to
appear later in the same place. .
II wish you would make 1t plain, I"
said the Johnstown representative,
s4hat because Mr.. Bryan finds it
necessary to oppose the President on
preparedhess that It does not mean
that he VIII fight Mr.. Wilson for re-
nonainntio ION and Sre:elect Many of
us Democrats fayorably inclined to
Nj. Bryanss peace views feel perfect
~ free to opposed q policy which we be-
liera contrary to Democratic doctrine
ana which has been sanctioned Meth
er by the Democratic party nor by
the people. Because we are fighting
the Ptesident on preparedness does
not necessarily mean that we should
becaissed as his opponents so Ear as
* reiates TO denomination"
Mr., Bailey said he had no informa-
ton that MI. Bryan Is opposed to the
President,s denomination at st. Louis
next June ne admitted, however,
that die dght over preparedness may
reach the national convention and
bring about Serious trouble. He is Of
the opinion that the tax question ia
the one bie issue to be considered and
that uniess the goyernment has the
money there Is no need for haste on
nreparedness. ItS is the revenue ques'
Tim In fi1a oufnfonG OF Mr., Bailey,