The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1916-02-10
Washington Letter

purpose which President wilson eX'
pects-or at any rate, hopes to achieve
By mis- speech. making tours is his own
re. re.election. He realizes that when he
is once renominated the prophecies OF
the presidency will not permit him 10
20 out on the stump as a candidate
for office. But now months before
the national convention meets, he is
bound by no such restriction; and he
is thought here to have been very glad
to make use Of the opportunity 10 do a
little campaigning under the guise Of
presenting his new-iound policy OF
national defence Of the people.
The value Of his efforts 10 this end
cannot be estimated just now but
the fact that he has awakened little
that can be called enthusiasm is re-
garded as significant.
The immediate purpose which the
President had in mind before starting
out with his little bag Of speeches was
to procure a reaction OF pressure upon
the Democrats in Congress who are
opposing his programme of prepared
ness. The Presidents prestige is at
stake in this matter He has execu'
ted sudden flop, as Congressman
Moore calls it, on this question:; but
his party associates in the House are
not as nimble as he is, aad they are
still standing where the paesident bade
them stand in his message Of a year
ago. In this they are actuated by
two beliefs. They think that the Will
son Of year ago is the real Wilson
and that they are doing him real favor
in saving him from what they think is
misguided political manoeuver. In
addition they think that they are repre-
senting the sentiments Of their constit-
uents in opposing policy which they
describe in rather loose terms as mil
itarism".
The Presidents idea is that if he
can stir up the folks back home, "
they will communicate their feelings
to their representatives and produce a
shift Of position on the part Of the re-
calcitrant Democrats who are now i'm
perilling the Presidents program from
a party point Of view. No change oi
opinion Of this sort has yet manifested
itself among the rebellious Democrats.
Perhaps it is a little early to look fol
it-but the fact remains that the only
activity thus far displayed has been
among Democratic paci6sts, who have
been busy every minute pertecting
their organization and preparing to &C
to the mat with the President 10 q
strangle hold for supremacy. The
same night that Mr.. Wilson opened
his speaking campaign in New York
Mr.. Bailey Of Pennsylvania announced
that more than twenty Democratic
Congressmen had signed a formal com
pact TO stand together in opposition t.
the President'r military bills and tha
recruits were coming in almost ever,
hour.
This does not mean that there vii
be no Legislation for defence at thi
session. On the contrary such legis
lation is assured-by RepublicaI
votes. The speech Of Minority Leade
Mann made thai clear.
Mr.. Wilson's speeches have con
tanned frequent references Of scorn fc
those who would make the question {
national defence a partisan matter, ye
his whole intent in taking his trip ha
been to secure, Democratic suppoI
for a plan which he, a Democrat
President, has formulated and Shic
he would like TO see adopted by Den
ocratic votes alone 1t is a commo
remark here that il the President
sincerely desirous Of legislation i
national defence, he will abandon e
forts to compel Democratic support f
it and will begin to cooperate in goc
faith with the Republicans who a
willing and anxious TO see the count
put in a state OF adequate prepare
ness.
WlIsonian COnceit