Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-04
SOUTH TO BACK
the PRESIDENT
Majority Of Congressman
Will Line Up For Pre-
paredness.
BUT FEW WILL OPPOSE
Kitchin. Saunders and Dies Likely to
Find Themselves in Minority When
Vote Comes.
Vote Comes.

Washington, Feb. 4---Inquiries
made develop the fact that President
Wilson's plans for strengthening the
army and navy for defense purposes
will be strongly supported By the
Southern delegation in the House
when the test OF strength comes in
Congress. In fact, the poll taken Of
the Southern delegations indicate tina;
Majority Leader kitchin. Represen-
tatiye Saunders, of Virginia, and Rem
resentative Martin Dies. of Texas, who
are opposing the plans to strengthen
the army and navy, will be swept of
their feet by the big vote the South
will give the "better preparedness
program.
A widespread belief has been Great
cd throughout the country that on
account of the opposition of Majority
Leader Kitchin, Chairman Saunders.
of the Democratic caucus, and the
Texan that a majority Of the South
erners were against the President in
his fight TO increase the efficiency Of
the army and navy. The inquiries
made show that the reverse is true.
The opposition to the national de-
rense movement, it is shown, comes
principally from North Carolina and
Texas and that the other states in
the section known as the South will
strongly support the President.
Taking the issue of better pre-.
paredncss" as general proposition
and not the details of the proposed
legislation. inquiries show that Mary
land. South Carolina. Alabama. Ten
nessee, West Virginia and probably
Louisiana and Mississippi vii! ne solid
" with the President North Carolina
Majority Leader Kitchin's State. is
divided and stands six for and four
against the President. Virginia, ac-
cordinr to the best information, will
cast nine votes for the program. and
Judge Saunders vote will be the lone
vote against it from that State. Rep
rcsentative Jones, who is lukewarm TO-
ward the plan. ii is understood, vii
probably line up with the President
when the final test comes.
Florida vii! probably stand three
for and one against; Georgia. eight
or nine for and four or three against;
Texas. probably eleven for and sever
against; Arkansas is badly split W
and may cast majority vote agains'
it. and Kentucky will probably give
the program at least 10 votes out oI
her eleven. OF the l6 Missouri rep
resentatives the preparedness program
will get fifteen.
The inquiries made show that there
is a far stronger sentiment behind
bigger ravy than there is behind
larger army among the Southerners
In fact. there is reason to believe
there will be little or no opposItIo!
to the naval program except from
few irreconcilable small navy men
There is also a. strong sentimen
against the proposed continental arm.
plan, proposed by Secretary of Wa
Garrison. Many of the Southern mem
bers said that while they will supper
the President they are against tn
continental army and favor legisla
ton strengthening the state militia a
p substitute for the Garrison scheme
Representative II. D. Flood, of Viz
ginia. who believes the sentiment o
the country is swinging around t
| the President as result of his tour 0
the West. expresses the opinion tha
the Southern people will be Amos
solid for the national defense move
ment if it were definitely settled tha
the taxation burden for meeting tn
expense would not be laid upon tn
shoulders of the rank and file of tn
people.
~ believe if the additional revenu
needed to pay the better preparedness
bills were to he raised from a tax o
the output of munitions OF war fac
tories" says Mr.. Flood. There woul
! e.little opposition to the President
program"