New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-14
President Considering
Plan for Universal
Training
LESSON IN HAY
SYSTEM FAILURE
Change in Policy May
Be Delayed Until
Next Congress
.-..- rfern. Pr-eau.l J

Washington, bec' 10 ne
..-,,,. Of the Wilson Administration Is
..,,.v safe On domestic policies during
y. ne o. the 6<th Congress, st least
For the moment the attention Of the
,,r,.rv and the neutral world is riv-
,..s on the possibility Of peace in Eu-
,,,. That interest may be kept alive
ss,ips the winter, and in that case the
Administration will find It more easy to
slide BY on issues Of great domestic
,-,ort which sre as follows:
Adequate military defence Of the
United States.
A, extension Of the Adsmson rail-
,,ss wage law 10 conform with the
Presidents recent message 70 Congress.
Genuine efforts, without fireworks, to
bring about, Il possible, reduction IN
the present cost Of living.
The problem Of finding the funds per-
rsnently 70 meet the greatly increased
expenses Of government
On the last mentioned problem there
/, 10 doubt that the Administration will
be able TO avoid getting down to
cases" because finding the money is,
.or the time at least, merely a matter
q bookkeeping, and it is not difficult
10 rob Peter and pay Paul.
Hubbub over Food Prices Quieted
The great hubbub which has been
raised over the high prices for food
s.uFs has been quieted. Warnings"
TO the people not 10 expect too much
have gone out with authority. AS a
natter Of fact, from the President down
and not excepting the abortive ef-
forts looking toward q food embargo
10 official Of sense and sobriety ever
had an idea Of doing more than scare
the middlemen. II is realized that the
causes for high prices lie much deeper
than cold storage.
As 20 the subject matter Of the re-
cen, message-the railroad problem-it
is impossible 70 End any man of in
huence and political understanding in
OF out Of Congress who believes there
IS any serious purpose 20 force through
the concentrations of the President,
namely, enforced arbitration on the
Canadian plan, enlargement Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
grant Of military power over railroad
employees in time of war. A very solid
opposition, especially TO the arbitra-
ton plan, is developing in Congress.
and observers in close touch with all
angles Of the situation are inclined 10
Be skeptical Of the outcome.
One ray Of hope, from the point of
view Of those who above all other
things dread a railroad strike, was
found to-day in the rumor that the
railroad brotherhoods and the Ameri-
san Federation Of Labor were con-
siiering & proposal TO compromise on
The arbitration proposition. Represent
t.ives Of the brotherhOods and the A.
T. Of L. are preparing a bill of their
osn, a measure which will 60 under
he name Of arbitration, but which will
not make slaves" Of union labor, as
he Canadian act is said 70 do.
Defence the Real Problem
Despite the inertia of Congress, de-
spite the silence at the White House,
esspite the supposed lack of interest in
he country at large, there is no blink
iag the fact that proper and adequate
military defence Of the United States
Is the greatest and most pressing Of
al the problems at Washington now.
The New York World" in editorially
Commenting on a recent dispatch TO The
Tribune from its Washington Bureau,
9ia that 10 was ridiculous TO assert
nat the President could induce Con-
gfess 10 pass proper military defence
dv at this session. IL may be ridicu-
loss 70 expect IL, but there Is no doubt
tnong members Of both houses Of Con-
g'tss that the President could do just
nat he would, and II unimpeachable
.sthority is 20 be given credence the
Aaminisiration is willing 10 confess
iseh power.
The World" went on 70 say that the
~ thing 20 be done was 70 provide a
Pan for discussion Of universal mill
1fy training, really the work Of the
S'aeral staff, but inasmuch as the Cen
"a STAFF has no plan and talks only in
p,.rslitles, the Job probably will have
. done by somebody else"
he much abused General staff is
~ Permitted 70 answer for itself, and
s Tribune correspondent does not
s'''ese 20 answer for IL. But II is
.'ne answer 20 say that II was learned
Is afternoon that the President Is
p0s giving serious consideration 70 a
Saefete plan for universal military
tining This plan was prepared by
@e Army General staff.
Wilson Sees Need Of Army
Even President Wilson has been i'm
liessed BY the breakdown of the Hay
sauonal Guard plan. Even the man
Who kept US out Of war" is beginning
tense the need of some method Of
getting men into the regular army.
.lose friends Of the Administration go
The length Of saying that the Presi-
cent, although he has spoken publicly
tgalnst compulsion, is now rapidly be-
eoning converted 20 the belief that in
20 other way can an adequate army
Wer be obtained.
~ Ia not expected that the President
WI announce change in policy dur
,og the present session, because there
y not time for discussion before March
and II would be practically impos-
noie 70 force the measure through
Sithout long cam saiSn Of persua-
''on. II might even be necessary, be-