Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-24
POLITICAL PROGRAM
OF WEEK CROWDED
WITH BIG PROMISES
President Wilson's Stumping
Tour in Behalf of National
Defense the Outstand-
ing Feature
ITINERARY EXTEND E ID

WASHINGTON. Jan. PA week oi
politics opened today Political pots OF
Democrats, Republicans and Progressive
were bubbling Politicians, parties and
legislation We're involved.
The chief political development sched-
uled was the appearance OF President
Wilson ION the stump iu behalI OF nus
Preparedness plans. He will make the
first of his appeals Ito the country
Thursday NIGHT at New York. While he
Ia planning to eschew politics in this
speech and also during his middle West
ern tour next week. his speechmakrs
plan was pregnant with political effect
The itinerary for his uip next week
into what the Administration regards as
the heart of preparedness territory
vas laid before the President today.
lie returned To his desk after @ short
trip on the Nlaynower with Mrs. Wilson
and found many invitations to make
speeches awaiting uiu. Seemingly the
entire country wants go hear his views
on preparedness and is making its desires
known by telegram. telephone, letters ana
personal enyuNs, Upon the urgent re
quest Of Senators Stone and Reed the
President consented to- include St. Louis
In the trip.
senator Oliver aud delegation OF
Pennsylvanaus wanted him 10 address
the Peunsy yiyauia state society at Phtla-
delphia on "ither January ~ or February
or = Representative SABBATH Of Illinois
asked him to address the Chicago Indus
trial club on his coming trip. Rcprc-
tentative Linthicum of Baltimore asked
that he address the old Town Associa
tion on February -. senator Chiffon of
West Virginia cNtcndcd an invitation To
visit Wheeling. Senators Tillman and
Smith OF South Carolina invited him TO
address the Legislature m that state
some time before adjournment.
The President took all of them under
advisement lie viii spend much time
before his departure going over data fur
nished by the war aud navy departments
regarding particular weaknesses I'm our
defense The treasury and commerce de
partments have also furnished hgures 10
be used on the trip
The political aspects of the Presidents
trip are expected TO he emphasized in his
exhortat tions to the public to support the
general idea of increasing the nations de-
fenses-not the exact program recon-
mended to Congress, but the general pol !
icy. Speeches on the Mexican situation
are expected to deepen the political tingc
to his appearance before the country.
Another political Development II the |
week Is meeting at Chicago of Repub- ,
llcan leaders to make preliminary ar ,
rangemcnis fur the national convention. !
Still another is the movement under way
by IrOEreS-iNC lStpuDIttl N'IdloIS anu 7
Representatives to effect working
agreement rOt progressive legislation i'm
Congress, working toward Progressive
control of the national convention plat
form and nominee
Colonel Roosevelt also may enter tho
political arena this week. He Is being
urged to speak at Chicago on prepared
ness.
w. ]. Bryan will soon begin a speech
Il iet Ito,
and all other preparedness movements, II
plans of peace advocates carry. lie has
told them he will do what is asked of
him In that direction.