Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-23
RALLY To The
DEFENSE PLAN
Presidents Program Ex-
pected to Pass House
by Big Majority
HEARING FROM HOME
Several Members Heretofore Arerse
to Preparedness Said to be Revls-
ing Their Opinions

| Washington, i eD. Z3-IongFessIo'l'
al opposition to the Administrations
plan for strengthening the army ano
navy for defense purposes has been
growing weaker and weaker during
the past two weeks. since the Presl'
! dent made his Western trip, and the
Democratic leaders who are standing
by Wilson are now inclined to be-
lieve that the 'bctter preparedness
program will be passed by the House
by an overwhelming majority, the
bulk of which will come from the
Democratic side.
Evidence is accumulating in WASH
incton from all parts of the country
that the sentiment of the people mas
,t last been aroused and that 1t taVors
stronger and more efficient military
and naval establishments. In every
case where a Congressman has under
taken to sound his constituents ana
where newspapers have conducted
polls big majority of the people
we're found to be strongly in favor OF
unfolding the President. AS result
the vigorous Democratic opposition 10
the Administration program, when
has been voiced on the House floor
and heralded over the country, has
practically ceased. The opposition "a! r
in the lobties and cloakrooms is fast
diving out, indicating the gradual re-
volution in sentiment.
From present Indications the Demo-
cratic "slackcrs" in the House can
h. counted on the two hands Repre-
sentative Kitchin, the majority leader
is still holding out, and the indications
are that he vii! be the only North
Carol;nian to be found arrayed against
the President. Representatives Saun-
ders, of Virginia; Eensley, OF Mis-
souri,: Davis, Galloway and Dies, OF
Texas, and Baily. of Pennsylvania,
are expected to hold out until the bit
ter end.
It has became known that Repre-
sentative William Gordon, of Cleve-
land. one of the bitterest of the op-
penents to the "better preparedness
program. is undergoing Il change OF
view. The House Military Affairs
Committee leaders expect a unanim-
Gus report on the Hay bill. Mr.. Cor
don is member of the Military
Committee. and it is understood that
he has indicated willingness to sup
port the bigger army program.
A notable conversion to the Presl-
dents "bettcr preparedness" leglsla-
tive program came in Representative
w. f. Cox, of Indiana, who has been
in Congress many years and VINO mas
consistently opposed big military
and big naval establishment. Mr..
Cox undertook referendum vote of
his district to sound public sentiment.
The replies to his letters arc so
strongly in favor of standing by the
A administration that Mr.. Cox will sup
mort the "national Defense legislation
Representative Goodwin, of North
Carolina, conducted a similar reteren-
dunn vote of his district and the re-
plies were strongly in favor of "bet-
ter preparedness"
Another illustration of the strength
of the sentiment for a bigger mill
tarv and naval establishment came
from Texas. The Dallas News ana
Galveston News, believing TEXANS
wanted the army and navy strength
cned. asked their readers to express
their views on the subject In letters
of 25 words. Seventeen thousand let
ters were received, of which approx
mately 16,10O advocated upholdlne
the Administration plans and only
900 were against. Texas has furnish
ed more Democratic dissenters in Tho
House of the Administrations pro
gram than any other Southern State
Representative Martin Dies o.
Beaumont. when the news of the new:
paper poll reached Washington, let
yesterday to begin his campaign tol
denomination. Mr.. Dies made severa