Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-22
POLITICAL GosslPs IN WASHING
TON TRYING TO ANALYzE
"swiNG AROUND CIRCLE"
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
BELIEVED IN DANGER
President Hopes to Strengthen Pro-
posed Bills on Preparedness, Reve-
nues and Shipping by Direct Appeal
to PeopIe-Some Believe Tour Is For
Political Purposes Onlyr
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Jan. 22.-NOthing in re-
cent months has so loosed the tongue
of the politicians about Washington as
cut short the. social season and take
! "a swing around the circle" The
question everywhere asked today is:
why is he doing it?" On the sur
face of things, the president, finding
stubborn opposition to some phases OF
his legislative program, is going out
to talk to the plain people and light
the fires of public sentiment under
certain of the recalcitrant statesmen
''on the hill"
This is said to apply with especial
force to preparedness. The admins
tration program of national defense is
Undoubtedly in danger. The active OPP
position of the pacifists. led by Bryan,
plus the wide differences of view
among those who think some steps for
national defense should be taken are
jeopardizing the administration de-
tense proposals. The continental army
as outlined by Secretary Garrison is
meeting with strenuous opposition and
the indications are it will fail.
To Fortify Program.
That one of the purposes of the
president in making the Swing around
the circle is to fortify his legislative
program, including preparedness, reVe-
nue. legislation, shipping and other
matters can not be questioned. When
he was governor of Jersey he used to
go out and appeal to the people on
state matters He has been told, so
it is said. that in the present situation
the people of the country are looking
for leadership and that If he Will go
out and talk to them he will meet an
enthusiastic response.
But the political wise ones here re-
fuse to believe the president is going
to tour the country solely for legis
lative reasons. They think big poll
tics is wrapped up in the newly de-
veloped plan.
Challenge to Bryan.
They see in 1t, first of all, direct
challenge to Bryan. a challenge to the
enemies of the president within the
democratic party. They aver that
President Wilson is going out to mop
the earth" with Bryan and all demo-
Gratis who are trying to stick a knife
in him as a candidate for renomina-
ton and thus to clinch his renomina-
ton.
That is one thing Further, they take
the view that in addition to making a
preconvention campaign at this time.
the president Is going to make a large
share of his reelection campaign
now. II this viewpoint is correct. every
mile Of the presidents tour will pos
sess political value and will be worth
watching from the outlook of politics
alone.
. 1t is a certainty that the political
chieftains on whom the president re-
lies for advice are not looking at the
proposed tour solely from the legis-
lative standpoint. They feel this is
time for the president to go out and
do some hard hitting from the plat
form and train end and that the re-
suit of his trip will be to add much
to his strength with the public.
Bryan Nightmare.
William Jennings Bryan has caused
the administration political managers
to lie awake nights. But there are
others Theodore Roosevelt is per-
sonality who has much the same eff
feet on the administration political
Iieutenants that the mention Of Rich
ard Plantagenet had on the Saracen
children-it makes them shy and they
see shadows To an extent, what Mr..
Wilson says will answer the criticisms
of Roosevelt Undoubtedly the presi
dent will say good deal to strengthen
his hand as to his Mexican policy.
In other words, as the politicians see
it. the forthcoming trip of the presi-
dent must be viewed from many angles
and with the belief there are many
1r,ff-
dent is slipping and AS going out to
regain lost ground. But there is no
evidence the presidents advisers feel
he is slipping On the other hand,
they think this trip may make certain
his renomination-alrea assured, they
say-and also his reelection.