Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-25
WILSON WOULD Hold
Mexican CONFERENCE
Trying TO Prevent Breaking
Off of Negotiations Un-
til Election Day
MEETINGS ARE
CALLED FARCE

WASHINGTON. Oct. 25.- President
Wilson, according TO Information
which has reached here 10 making
determined efforts to ward OF the
breaking up Of the joint Mexican
American conference until after cleo
lion. The conference has admittedly
accomplished nothing, and hope that
any practical good will come Of 1t has
virtually been abandoned.
Army officers smile when reference
10 the conference is made. but they
point out that there is good reason
TO believe that the President is con
sidcrng keeping the National Guard
on the border for another year at
least i'm view of the failure of the
conference and they anticipate an
other four years Of "watchful wait
ing" on the border If the President is
re- elected
They base this on AN important de-
cision Just announced by the War De
partment after word from Shadow
Lawn This Is 20 the effect that "one
year application. with the promise Of
service in the reserve thereafter, will
not be considered in connection with
the new terms of enlistment. which
become effective on November /. This
decision. il is said offsets the most
progressive feature OF the plan which
the General Stan had incorporated in
he army bill.
Called Il Good Move.
The General Stafi. i'm order 10 build
up the army by inducing young men
to ft themselves for soldering. sane
toned the provision for one year en-
lstment, followed by six years in the
reserve This was regarded as a
practical as we'll as a progressive
feature Of the army bill II was
destined to appeal to thousands of
those young Americans who were
willing to devote year of their lives
20 the army i'm order To be prepared
20 offer their services in case serious
trouble later threatened.
At the end OF a years service the
Secretary OF War had the discretion
OF permitting these zone year. men TO
go into the reserve. which. IL was as
sumed. he would do in all cases where
the records showed that the training
Of the applicant along military lines
had been sufficient TO warrant his be
ing of real service to the country II
later called upon. The President is
understood 90 have regarded this as
very satisfactory and progressive
feature of the bill"
But now the Preaident has changed
his mind He did not mean. Il ap-
pears, what he said when he sanction
ed the idea of this feature Of the army
bill being widely advertised through
out the country as a means OF obtain
/ ing new recruits. or he has changed
/ his mind because OF some develop
ment Of which the public is being
kent in ignorance.
Feature OF Plan Spoiled.
Secretary Baker. acting under In
structions from the President. has
issued an order 10 department com
manders making il clear that they
must not promise zone year" men
that they may placed in the reserve
With one stroke of the pen this fea-
ture OF the new enlistment plan Is
wiped out. and army officers are cur
ious To know the reason why.
The consensus OF opinion is that
the so-called "farcical Efforts at New
London and Atlantic City have made
- NA'ot NAAot hV NNNr NA q SOiNuOu Oh
the Mexican problem is IN sight. Re.
cent reports from Atlantic City hav,
in fact made il appear that no usefu
purpose can be served bv further pro
tracing the exchange Of theories ans
mutual cOurtesics at the conference
, u is understood the Administration
has sought by every means 90 shap
matters in such way that som