The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-24
POLITICAL FUTURE
OF The PRESIDENT
STAKED ON TOUR
Not Only Defence Plan but
His denomination Believed
at Issue.
WILSON'S SWITCH
CAUSES CONFUSION

NvbNNI> VII
CAUSES CONFUSION
wAsurSGroN. Jan. 23.-Upon the trip
shtch President Wilson Is about to take
through the middle West will depend. II
IA believed. the fate OF the national de-
fence programme in Congress. This trip
,s'also considered likely TO have a vital
.gec, upon the political fortunes Of Mr..
Wilson
Unless the President stir the mid
die West from It's apathy toward pre-
paredness his plan for increased expendi-
lures for tho army and navy is certain to
he sidetracked in Congress. Also II the
President fails to arouse sufficient en-
thlslasrn to force "A victory on this Is
sue his leadership In the Democratic
Marty viii have suffered a blow from
which it will be hard for him to ecover.
II tho President goes down 10 defeat
before william J. Bryan and other Dem
ccratlc leaders 10 the fight that Is Just
beginning some persons here doubt
whether lie will consent to become a can
d.dafe for denomination. IL Is apparent
therefore that the trip on which the Pres
ldent will start the last of this week will
Be one Of the most important moves he
has made since he entered the White
House.
SituatiOn IL COuGuslng.
TIE present situation in Washington
a. regards national defence is discourage
ins Tor those who had hoped to see
prompt action on this important matter.
No, In years has there been a big dues-
ton before Congress about which there
seems so much confusion.
I, is becoming apparent that the Pres
selves chiefly responsible for the confused
though, in Congress on this subject. The
Indifference ~ both the President and his
Secretary of the Navy to the question of
national defence "A year ago and their
statements indicating that the army and
" WV 80 SUI ~ NV go ''i'
g. plague them and the preparedness ad-
vocaies.
This change of front on the part
OF the President aad MIR, Daniels pre-
seuts the most criou obstacle now be-
fore Congress to II onsumiptti of the
programme The opponents Of prerarcd-
ness are clever enough Ia use the former
%u,terances of the President and secretary
Daniels In u way that brings confusion
and perpleNity to those who are honestly
tying TO make up their minds on the
Issue.
\ leader IN the House of many years
experience said to THE SrN correspond
eHt
The trouble with this national de-
fence situation il that II has too much
Of an appearance of heiug artificial.
Here Is the President urging on Congress
a prugramnc that he refused even To
consider "A year or iva ago. Here Il
Daniels calling for large additions 10
the navy after having diligently tried
to Great. the popular Impression that
the United States nav under his ad-
ministration Is second To none.
Hero are the experts of the army
Offering anon themselves as to what
ought Ia he done and finally yards and
larls of speeches in and out of Congress
are lriug delivered daily containing con-
fict'ng opinions. Is 1t any wonder tina
some members of the House and the
Senate. and especially the folks IN the
middle West, whose interest in national
defence is not seemingly So keen. should
be confused over the situation"
To R~mOs Ong Impressions.
u is this very condition of affairs
which convinced tho President and his
advisers that he must carry his tight
direct to the people that he must over
come the impression created by his
earlier Indifference to national defence
that he must divest the present situation
~ its artificial appearance and bring II
h~ne TO the people thai they have a vita
interest at stake
The uufavorahle effect OF former
utteranccs Of the President and Secre'
tsry Daniels on national defence is EN-
phasized further by contrast between tht
way their present views are being re-
ceiNsd and the attitude Of most people
toward Secretary H%arriSon's statements
Mr.. Garrison has been consistently an
advocate for preparedness. lie SUD
m!tted = programme to Congress a veal
ago IN the face of what al
most To opposition on the PRESIDENT
part
" - WI '~Ill = ''flllilA'' - - ~
u'.ug ro,uguizod now ever by the Re
puhlcaus IN Congress, Senator Lodge
~ q s'"rch last night expressed th'
though that is IN many minds at th'
National capital.
W hay" got 4 Secretary OF war
sad he, TO whom az an American
fec under great obligations. He has
TOD Us the facts. lie has laid !i'
cards on the table. do not know
whether the scheme that he proposes
and Which Is known as his plan IN tn
IDEAL pltu-l very much doubt Ito
whether. lEc other men charged VIII
r"sponsNb'lit,. he is laboring Tor tn
hest that he can hope to get, bu
sho'" All things he is telling US al
about H'
y difference OF opinion among advo
Gates "' preparedness has arisen as II
whether some of the recent activities
~ ia" utriuual defence organizations
nave helped the cause, Those opposing
Ue Presidents programme in Congres
trying to bring about "a genera
iNeS',gatlnn by Congress into the de
f'h'' u cues for the purpose OF delay
'g action aud putting the entire matte
IN until next session of Congress. Som
MANNERS fear that the recent activitie
A" N" leagues are likely to increase IN
cna|ecs of such an investigation.
NanTuNrimx for Delay.
Congress has been in session nov
'hput six weeks, not counting the Christ
mas holiday recess. but not much prcg