The sun., 1916-02-22

President WILSON'S programme Of
preparedness. formally submitted to
the Congress on December Z, 1915,
has been wrecked. His scheme of
army expansion. never accepted by
his colleagues In Congress-" has been
abandoned by him. That abandon.
ment cost him his Secretary Of War.
His naval suggestions have been dis
regarded. Unfortunately. the fact
has not moved his Secretary of the
Navy to efface himself from official
life. The Presidents financial pro-
posals have been torn up and cast
aside. Never has an Executive plead.
Ing with a Legislature Of his own
party been more contemptuously re-
buffed, and Mr.. WILSON must be deaf
to the nations voice. blind to the na-
tons acts. II he cherishes the opinion
that the country now expects from
him and his partisans a satisfactory
and adequate solution of the prob.
lens Of national defence.
In nothing that has occurred since
he became President has Mr.. WILSON
displayed his essential and uncOn-
querable weakness as public nd
ministrator more fully than in his
treatment Of preparedness. In moth
ing else the Democratic party has un-
dertaken since power was conferred
upon 1t In 1912 have its leaders shown
more dlscouragingly the incompetence
that justifies the sneers of their op-
ponents. Where directneSs, dlsinter-
estedness and firmness were needed,
there has been evasion. seltishness
and irresolutiOn. Where broad
minded attitude toward the country's
needs was required. the Democracy
could not rise above parochial con-
sIderations. At time when unity
in action and harmony In counsel
were demanded by the exigencies of
the United States. the Democrats In
Congress could not submerge their
personal differences or subordinate
their personal prejudlccs.
When Mr.. WILSON became an Office
holder he assumed the leadership of
his party. He did 1t in New Jersey !:
he extended the range of his activi-
ties when he went to Washington. And
his leadership has produced a situa.
tion In which the legislators on whom
he must depend for success openly
disregard his carefully matured poli.
cies and oppose his most soleninly
advocated measures. Their dsrespect
, for his sincerity and lack of conil.
dence In his Judgment are measured
by their disloyalty to his proposals.
II they believed In him they would
give their adherence to those projects
that receive his unqualified and seri-
Gus support; disbelieving, they treat
his advocacy with contempt. and they
serve notice on him thnt his indorse-
ment is without weight
Under these circumstances Ameri.
cans aware Of the necessities of their
country cannot and do not expect
from Mr.. WILSON and the Democrats
the system Of national defence that
| every intelligent man knows Is en-
| Joined by the International require
ments "f to-day. They see n party
demoralized. disorganized. without CO
herence or common purpose; Il leader.
ship houted; the administration Of
DANIELS preserved while GARRISON
departs; and they know that the first
step toward the sufficient armament
of the United States will NOT be taken
until the first Tuesday after the first
Monday In November. when the rule
of disorder will be- ended by the
expulsion Of the incompetent> from
places of authority.