Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-01
WILSON'S CHANCES HURT BY
DEFENSE TRIP. FOES SAY
Clark's Friends Boom Speaker for the
Presidency

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.--Despite all re.
| ports from the country to the contrary,
| Democratic members of the House op-
posed to the Presidents policy of prepared
ness expressed the belief that the Execu-
| tive has lost ground since he started on
| his speechmaking tour and the results
! of his trip will not be helpful to him
| with the voters of his own party.
| The leaders OF this anti-preparcdness
| campaign characterize the utteranccs of
! the President In his Pittsburgh and
Cleveland speeches as calculated TO cast
distrust upon the good faith of his Ad-
I intnistration in cndcavoring to preserve
peace.
1t is admitted that a movement is on foot
among those members who are opposed TO
the Presidents idea of national defense to
bring about the nomination of Speaker
Champ Clark at the Democratic National
Convention, to he held in st. Louis on
June ID Congressman who have dis.
cussed this phase of the political situation
argue that the Speaker never has been in
favor of a large standing army or for.
midable navy, and they believe that lie
more nearly represents the views of those
who are behind the peace propaganda.
The antipreparedness element in the
lower branch of Congress figures that It
can count on the support of between so
and 100 Democratic votes against the
Presidents plan to place the country on
n substantial defense basis, ready to
meet any emergency which may arise.
"Of course. we do not intend to make
their names public" said one of the ants.
I'VE are not going to furnish the enemy
with any information which would help
the campaign for preparedness. But there
will be some surprises when the question
comes to a vote
Majority Leader Kitchin is helping the
fight against the preparedness program
of the President He persistently calls
attention to the fact that greater taxes
must be paid If the country would have
larger navy and larger army.
Governor Craig. of North Carolina. who
has been here several days, said that 30 |
per cent. of the North Carolina people |
are for the President and against Mr.. |
Kitchin in his opposition to the national |
defense program.
In reply to Governor Craig Mr. Kitchin |
said:
"The Governor may be right that 90 per |
cent. of the North Carolinans are against
me. but I notice the Governor failed to
state what per cent favor the Presidents
program of taxation to finance the billion
dollar tive-year increase in the army and
navy
II am in favor of preparedness But
there is difference between a hysterical
and reasonable preparedness | favor
the same kind of preparedness that Pres.
dent Wilson, Secretary Daniels, Admiral
Fletcher, Commander of the Atlantic
feet. the man who may have to do the
lighting, and the Democrats in the House
and Senate favored less than year ago
and which they declared met the full
needs of this country.
This program was the largest in the
history of our Government. | think il
Visest and best to proceed with our regu-
ar program, which was making the navy
stronger and more efficient every year. and
which, If adopted now, would not demand
dollar extra appropriation over the reg
liar army and navy expenditure. This
program gave us two dreadmoughts. one
~ two battle cruisers Is to % subma-
ines, aeropanes. tUrpedoboaL destroyers
nd other coast defenseS."