Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-01-21
Wilson Glad To Fight 1t Out On
His Policies.

From President Wilson himself came
vigorous statement Tuesday of his willing
ness to face the utmost of criticism that
his political opponents may direct at him.
Substantially. the President CHALLENGED the
opposition to do their worst in attack
ing him, whether upon his Mexican policy,
his foreign policy or on personal grounds.
The Presidents utterance was made to
friend who had called his attention to
the recent outburst of political volleys
which had appeared in a number of oppo-
sition newspapers. Mr.. Wilson declared
confidently that the Republicans were well
come to produce every charge which they
intend to make against him. He indi-
Gated that he not only has no thought of
fiinching from these attacks, nor trying in
any way to avoid this cumulative criti-
cism. but rather that he welcomes it.
His remarks. while not reported in a
fashion that permits their quotation, gave
the impression that the President has his
fighting blood up, that the sensing of the
coming battle has given him not only a
thrill of pleasure, but an expectancy of
victory.
The political authorities from whom
emanated the criticisms to which the
Presidents attention was directed are d.
vided into two classes. The first consists of
the pro-Bryan Democrats. who are assail-
ing the President for his stand on national
defense and who are hopeful of discredit-
ing his leadership of the party through de-
feating his defense program 1t has been
frequently stated recently that Bryan is
hopeful Of making out of an anti-pre-
paredness victory a stepping stone to a
defeat for Wilson before the next Demo-
cratic nominating convention. The other
criticisms are of an out-and-out Republican
character. They relate to what is termed
the policy of inaction in Mexico, policy
OF vacillation and underwriting in place of
the stern maintenance of American rights
during the German controversy, and the
sense of establishment which many Amer
leans are said to feel because of their at.
titude toward second marriages.
Mr.. Wilson is preparing for a vigorous
counter-attack upon those members of his
own party who are trying to head off his
national defense program. The most Wig
orous Of his national defense speeches are
expected to be delivered by him within
the next month, during which period he
has already engaged himself to make two
addresses. The President is more than
ever convinced that the public sentiment
OF the country is insistent upon a sane
policy of army and navy development
which shall comprehend the lessons of the
European war. He is expected in his
forthcoming speeches to answer more spe-
officially than he has done heretofore the
paciists attacks upon his policy.
Mr. Wilson's confidence in the soundness
Of his Mexican policy is believed to be as
strong as at any time since it was formu-
lated. He is said to look forward with
especial keenness to the advancement of
the campaign to point where he may
properly put forward his defense of this
policy. The President, it is understood,
not only intends to stand by the convic-
ton that his Mexican policy ought to be
regarded as a logical whole, embodying
the best ideals of Americanism, but he
will challenge his critics to come out into
the open and defend the plain inference
from their attacks that they favor armed
intervention in Mexico at a cost of ST.
100000 day.
The keynote of the Wilson campaign will
be peace and prosperity. 1t will be con-
tended that relations of amity have been
maintained with all the bellieerents with
out the sacrifice Of American honor or the
yielding of American rights. No neces-
sity is anticipated for arguing that pros
perity has come during Mr. Wilson's ad-
ministration. The political advisers of Mr..
Wilson appear pleased, not only with the
strength Of the Presidents position before
the country, but also with the condition Of
disunion which pervades the opposition
camp They believe that the President s
fortunes are being improved by the par
ticularly vicious attacks which have been
| directed at him in the last week or more