New-York tribune., 1916-01-24
HOUSE WEAKENING
ON PREPAREDNESS
Leaders Say Administration
Must Fight Hard to Pre-
vent a ROut.


real preparedness 90 eliminate the man
he believes most dangerous TO Demo
cratic success next fall. He Is fighting
as well for mis- own political prestige,
for the right 20 call himself the leader
Of his party. and for the achievement
Of one solid success with which he can
20 before the voters.
But the greatest Of the fights is
against Rooscvel; The Presidents
first declaration in favor Of prepared
ness and his Abandonment Of the stand
he took in his message last year came
when the Colonel's demands for real
defence were beginning 10 make an i'm
preston on the country last summer
With his message to Congress this year
the President seemed to be content for
Il time. until it was found that Con-
eress would not respond without great
urging and that he would have 20 bear
the blame for defeat.
Fall Campaign Too Late.
The political advisers Of the admins
tration realized far better than the IN
dividual members Of Congress that the
defence question would take very dii-
ferent shape next fall, when the Demo
cratic party would be arraigned for
failure TO provide armament and the
whole country aroused in the excite
Of a political campaign. Inen'
- nneW, the question would have TO
be faced and Roosevelt, the man most
feared, is the prophet Of defence.
The President does not contemplate
any attack on the Roosevelt campaign
for defence-far from it. He Will need
the help Of Roosevelt and Of every one
else who can help f 10 is 10 win. But
when the campaign starts, If he has put
through anything tnat LOOKS me
fence programme. he can point 10 MS
ov-n achievements as against ko'ee-
velt's demands, declare that hooreFt-
j. an extremist, and that he, the resi-
dent. has done all that is required ana
so defy his attack.
Oniriou here Is divided as 20 whether
TO EXPECT q battle royai or q Huhe. IHe
issues at stake, iu which the country
actual need for preparedness play S oh'!
a minor part in the minds Oi lll pom
tieians. are so great, many letl' l""'
the President cannot rest WIN amy
thing short Of complete victory. y'heiS'
however. believe that he viii md popo-
lar sentiment so the cities W-r De
10 speak and where the ant-plapa' 'ed o.
ness propaganda has long gone NAcA"-
lenged from the White House so adj
verse that the President Will eFc Ai,
abandon the other trips he mad plaAN'o
and seek some new issue.
The President himself has been con-
WINGED that his whole political future
may hang on the result Of his coming
struggle The utter disorganlzauon OF
Congress and the failure 10 back up
the single issue which he raised IN ms
message have greatly impaired ms
standing and political power already
and have enabled the Bryan men 10 de-
clare that the real force I'm the admin
istration from the first has been the
Commoncr
Wilson Told lie Must Fight.
With the adm'u.s,r ,rauon's policies
under fire from every angle. and for
mer supporters becoming either oppo-
nents or lukewarm friends. 10 has be-
come necessary. the President has
been told. 90 make positive and ag-
cressive fight that viii restore him 20
leadership. Preparedness has been
chosen for the battle gage
The fight viii be one Of the most
bitter ever waged in Congress. II the
President is % win. the politicians pre-
diet. The anti-nreparedness work has
been done so well, and has taken so
great Il start while the President was
getting married and attending 20 other
matters that dozens Of Congressmen
who were for preparedness last iau
have heard news from their districts
which has put them on the other side
Of the fence The preparedness
forces are far weaker than they were
when Congress met, and are stiil los
ing ground steadily. There ls not TO-
day one prominent Democrat 100 either
House who is for the Presidents pro-
gramme without serious reservations.
To stop the rout. rally the forces and
Twin a victory, viii. % ls admitted, TAX
all the Presidents powers.
Few believe that D., will be possible
10 win any such victory by Democratic
votes or 10 claim any credit for the
Democratic party as result. Many
Republican votes will be necessary
both IN the House and Senate 20 put
through any preparedness measure.
and. IN fact. 10 is within the bounds OF
possibility that Republican viii be
found actually. IL not nominally, lead
ing the tight in one or both houses.
By far the strongest advocates Of pre-
parednoss in both houses have always
heon the Republicans, and they are so
to-day.
Even should sentiment change 60
favor preparedness the fight viii not
be won; there remains the question Of
paving the bills. There the President
can expect little Republican support,
for one of the chief Republican issues
will be the failure Of the Democratic
financial policy Il may prove that
when the preparedness bills are really
on the way the President viii bc able
20 hold his party strength together for
revenue bills. but that rs believed
doubtful. There viii. however, always
remain 10 him the resources OF thc
Panama bonds. 20 which he can turn
in spite Of his declaration tha. The
country should pay as 70 goes.
Defence Stronger in Senate.
The opening Of the hearings by the
Senate Military Affairs COMMITTEE has
transferred interes: from the House
20 the Senate, since it is recognized
that the Senate's action will probably
determine the final shape Of the bills.
In the Senate the sentiment has been
far stronger for preparedness than IN
The House, and this is reflected IN me
more favorable reception which the
War Department proposals have been
given.
has not vet been shown, but the irdi-