The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-18
BRYAN Policy Accepted.

The Baltimore Sun, one OF the most
stalwart Democratic newspapers pub
lished, discovers that the Bryan policy
and not the alleged Wilson policy con-
corning national preparedness has
been accepted by the Democratic ma
jority in Congress. That newspaper
asks this question:
as our army plan to be false piece
Of pretense"?
Then it comments as follows:
What the Democratic members OF
the House committee on military az
fairs may decide to do with regard TO
the strengthening OF our land forces is
one thing; what Congress may do is
quite another. Happily for the coun-
try at this juncture, the minority party
in Congress is nearly as large as the
majority, and there is every indica-
ton that the Republicans will not
swallow quietly any milk-and-water
policy of preparedness.
If Mr.. Hay and the other Demo-
cratic members of the House commit
tee imagine that the country Will be
satisfied with the substitute for the
administration army plan which II
is reported they propose to adopt, they
are very grievously deceiving them
selves. They have assumed the re-
sponsibility of throwing Mr.. Garrisons
continental army into the wastebasket,
and in assuming that responsibility
they have assumed another, and that
is the responsibility Of giving us some-
thing better. And they suggest some
thing that looks like sham and a
niece of false pretense when their iirst
step. after Mr.. Garrisons resignation,
is to reject the moderate enlargement
of the regular army, which is barely
sufficient for everyday peace purposes
and TO offer in place OF 100000 con.
tinertals a MAXIMUM reserve force Oh
100000 state militiamen.
The presidents acquiescence in Mr..
Garrison's resignation is not to be con-
strued as acQuiescence in a compro-
mise which will omit the essentials or
land preparedness. Final judgment
on the national guard scheme OF the
committee must be reserved until 1t
has been reported to the House, but
the committees alleged decision not
to increase the regular army to $4,000
men affords ground Of itself 10 regard
the rest, of its program with decided
doubt. On the face of it, 1t looks ike
a scheme to deceive the country with
make-believe preparation and to pro-
vide military graft, in place OF pork
barrel graft, for congressional dis
tricts. If the so-called liberalization"
OF the national guard is TO be as dis
appointing as the proposed action OF
the committee with respect to the reg
ular army, it would be great deal
rheaper and great deal safer to have
no action at ALL In that case the peo-
ple of the country would not be lulled
into false sense OF security, and they
could save the money TO be expended
on building up militia army on paper
and use it for paying war tribute to
a hostile nation with a real army.
There is yet chance for the Demo-
cratic party to come TO its senses on
this question, hut the days of grace
are rapidly rolling by. Mr.. Kitchin
Is still the leader Of the Democratic
majority in the House, and he does not
hesitate to announce that he is not
only against preparedness on land, but
against preparedness at sea. He will
iight a big navy as he has fought even
q email increase in the army. 1t may
he that the Democrats Of the House
ali owatan In time: but lust now II
raems as II the Bryan policy and not
he wilson policy had been virtually
accepted by the Democratic majority.
II this should prove to be true, It is
not impossible that the party might
have to look for some other candidate
than Mr.. wilson to lead It. There is
no difference Of opinion between him
and Mr.. Roosevelt as to the need OF
preparation. Each Of them - com
r1ltted on Nat policy. But Il MS OVID 1