Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-02-18

try a new picture of himself reveal.
ing qualities that hitherto the people
only vaguely understood him to pos.
sess.
The results both as to preparedness
and politics have been somewhat
mixed. While the effect has been
tremendous, the full measure of &C.
complishment is yet to be deter
mined. The present trip has touched
a part of the country which includes
all forms of opinions, but there is yet
to be encountered the do-nothingness
of the South.
To this task the president early
will set himself. His present inten-
ton is to follow up the advantage of
the journey just ended by invading
the South and there, II possible,
arousing a sentiment that will COM
pei a right about change Of face by
members of his own party who have
stood as the chief menace to the pre-
paredness program. Whether he will
make this trip or not has not been
announced, but it is expected 1t will
be within the next week or 80.
One Of the striking facts brought
clearly to the surface in the states
covered is the manner in which party
lines have been cut across and even
obliterated by the issues which are
now to the front.
Strong Bid for Leadership.
Further, until the trip of the pres
ident there was very apparent feel
ing among the people Of a lack Of
leadership. Throughout the Middle
West old leaders have ben forgotten.
In spots there are signs of Roosevelt;
leadership coming to the front, but
with followings entirely strange to-
the group with which Roosevelt was
surrounded in 1912.
The country, az q whole, unQues-
tionably is eager for new standard
bearers, men who can stand out and
voice the half formed opinions 9th.
ers cannot express, men who can
crystalline them into action and ef-
feet.
The trip of President Wilson has
been strong bid for this leadership.
The president left Washington
with his whole preparedness program
in the balance-congressmen desert
ing daily, his plans opposed in his
own party both as a whole and In de-
tail, the reports from the section he
was to visit carrying tidings Of oppo-
sition and the politicians fearful that
disaster was at hand. He has gone to
the people, and the results may be
summarized as follows:
Makes Country Think.
He started the country thinking
along new lines. From the frst.
whether his addresses moved the
crowds, his words have sunk in and
sunk in deep.
He thoroughly aroused the people
on the preparedness question. It waa
not q debatable subject with many Of
them at frst-now it IL. The pre-
paredness issue, wherever he has
spoken, has been made the foremost
topic Of discussion.
He won many converts, just how
many there are will not be known
for many days. a. his campaign was
of the kind that needs time to bear
fruit. Some are already declared.
He started backfire that unQues-
tionably soon will show In congress.
His appeals were for action, and his
converts. however many they may be.
will do something about 1t. Con-
gressmen have a strong tendency to
be swayed by what direct communities
lions they get from their constituents.
The presidential backhre Is likely to
produce large results.
He demonstrated that preparedness
is very far from being beaten. The
growing size, interest and enthusiasm
of the crowds proved this. Every
where 1t was found that the opposi-
ton was vocal while the support was
almost silent, that the real sentiment
for defense was stronger than It
sounded and that nowhere was the
question Of the community's senti-
ment positively fixed.
He made the issue clearly non-par-
tisan. Whatever suspicious Of seek
ing party advantage were felt Of him
by partisan opponents when he start
ed have been dispelled. Increasingly
the audiences accepted his appeals -
for the good of the country and not
for any party or for himself. At hrst
the Germans we're inclined to stand
out on this, but the great demonstra-
ton In st. Louis showed that even