The Detroit times., 1916-06-09
Wilson'S Political Strength.

ihVNA Hhi Anhhh 'NfNfff--
OF the primary campaign is the al
most universal belief that. IL the
election were held today. President
Wilson would be triumphantly re-
turned.
This utterance Is not that OF a
Democratic flatterer. IL IL taken
from the Philadelphia North Amer
lean, Bull Moose newspaper. at
present urging the domination OF
Col Roosevelt by the\Republicans.
The North American has on many
occasions bitterly attacked Wilson.
Il has echoed the colonel's charges
against the dministration-that 1t
has been timid, yacillating. un-Amer-
lean. Yet 1t will not stupidity shut
its eyes 10 the facts. IL detects q
rapid reversal OF opinion" in favor
OF Wilson. and goes on soherly TO
array the evidences of his political
strength. There are first, the pri-
mary elections and the various
straw" votes. These show remark
able Wilson gains" A striking
change OF sentiment concerning Mr..
Wilson was reported months ago
by commercial travellers. II Is ad-
mitted that the administration has
an unusual record to appeal TO. The
currency legislation has popular ap-
prevail" Chief of all Is the fact that
the country ~ highly prosperous. II
~ IN he ~ "A
Democratic tariff: and the Repub-
Leans will assert that 1t Is the Euro
pean war that saved US: but the
actual state OF industry, with the
high wages paid. and work found
for all. will, the North American con.
fesses, deprive the tariff issue OF its
customary deadly effect" All told,
1t concludes that those practiced OBJ
servers of political affairs are not
far wrong who agree that President
Wilson has imposing chances OF re-
election"
Alongside this testimony, notable
for its source, may be placed the
letter in this weeks Outlook on
Political Thinking in the Middle
West" by ex-senator Davenport AS
former Progressive and Roose-
welt follower today. he finds much
to discourage him In the region
which he has been visiting. The
people there are not In heroic mood.
There is a lethargy Of the demo
cratic spirit" The voters have not
been reused TO positive convic-
tions And note this depressing
conclusion:
One thing is clear 10 me from the
investigation of this centre of old
ment toward national discipline and
preparation. which In every day be-
coming more certain as the chief
presidential issue. is not this time
Even the Western farmers seem back
temporarily into the Old Glory Re
publican and the fried-meat Demo-
crat class. Opposed TO changel And
as for, the laboring class in the Md
die WeA. IL never received such high
wages, and was never so prosperous.
II Ia rejecting. not so much upon the
country as upon creature comfort.
More TO the present point is what
Mr. Davenport writes of the senti-
merit about Wilson. Whoever
thinks that President Wilson has
not great following In the middle
west has other guesses coming" II
would be easy TO uncover a volume
OF testimony favorable TO the Wilson
point OF view of keeping away from
war. IL possible. on the ground that
Wac 4. tho tyraa,acf IN 1au,itv which
can befall a nation" That must be
gall and wormwood to a true Roose-
veltian. And then think OF having
TO take such dose az this; There
is strong feeling among the Demo
Gratis OF the middle west that VII
son IN history is TO stand for the
patience and persistence of Lin
coin"
II would be very different story
if a political inquiry had been made
IN and about New York city. Here,
no doubt, Wilson stock went far
lower than in other parts Of the
country, and had not as yet recov-
cred SO much Of the loss. A prooc
tul bt WI uSN III uiibOot any
and discover sentiment against VIII
son which is strong, bitter. and even
contemputous. 1t Is hereabCuts that
the sharpest attacks have been
made upon him. here that his weak
ness. his cowardice. his pusillani-
nous conduct have been most harp
ed upon. The result has been 20
set up sort of artificial Wilson i'm
the public mind, figure so craven
and feeble that to imagine that he
could be elected president again
was ridiculous. So that 10 New
Workers the accommodating proof that
Wilson Ia really strong with the
country as whole must come "a n
great surprise. The clubs and the
exchanges knew nothing of Il, and
will undoubtedly. at first, be in
clined TO take low view OF the in
telligence and patriotism OF the rest
OF the country. But facts are facts,
and Il does no good TO blink them
No one who seeks TO keep his eyes
open TO them will deny that Presl
dent Wilson has been rapidly recov
ering popularity during the past few
months. This may not last. Acct
dent or mistake NAV weaken him