New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-21
HIS DEFENCE PLAN
IN GRAVE DANGER
And Closely Bound Up with 1t
Are the Presidents Chances
for Another Term.

]
fortunes on II. became clear tonight
with the announcement Of an itinerary
tor a stumping tour which will break
all the precedents Of his sdministra-
4 ton. For the first time since lie took
Office Mr. Wilson will go before the
people as a propaganda, and when no
has finished he will know whether or
not he Is the leader OF his party and
Of the country.
The tour announced tonight will
begin in New York next week. and will
carry him as far west as Kansas City.
/ It will include Cleveland Chicago. St.
Louis, Kansas City, St Joseph, Des
Moines and Davenport. Following this
trip, and depending much on his recep-
/ ton and the results achieved. he will
consider two more tours one 10 in
Guide Minneapolis and Denver; and the
/ other. Southedn cities.
President Wilson will sneak twice In
/ New York on January p. making his
q FIRST carefully prepared statement of
/ the situation before the Railroad Busi-
I rcSs Association al the Waldorf. Later
/ he will address the Motion Picture
/ Poard Of Trade at the Biltmore. The
first speech will sound the keynote Of
his campaign Other speeches will be
10 n large extent eNtcmporaneous, and
viii IN many case take IN the local
situation one Of 'hc chief efforts Of
the campaign VII. be TO convince the
Middle West that It's interests are no
less dependent on preparedness than
are those OF the coast states.
Realizes His Danger.
Only within the last few days has
the Pre- ldcnt been brought 20 realize
the seriousness Of the situation which
confront, him. Ils conversion to pre-
parcduess, IL IA known, was due largely
10 the belief that the country had
swung 10 il. and 20 the urging Of one
or two of the more farsightcl and
patriotic members of his Cabinet. Hav-
ing made his statement he seemed for
weeks content TO let the decision OH
the programme offered rest with Con
gress. and beyond a few conferences
he made almost no effort 10 enlist
strength for Il or 20 insure its success
IN any way.
Suddenly, however, the President was
shown, not only that the entire pro-
gramme was in the gravest danger, but
that his own political fortunes were IN
the balance. in Congress there was no
leader for preparedness, the Demo
cratic strength was falling away day
by day, the nominal leaders Of the
House were against It. and the legis-
lators were being besieged daily by
pacihsts, pork hunters and tax dodgers.
while their mails were flooded with
/ letters from the ants.
IN the country at large the situation
was no less serious. Sentiment for
preparedness had always been luke
warm in the Central States. and. while
/ IL was greatly strengthened following
the Presidents leadership last fall, IL
had as quickly died down when II
seemed apparent that he would do
nothing to support IT, Bryan and his
followers were active and meeting with
great success in their campaign The
militia officers. too, fearing curtall-
ment Of their prerogatlves, we're lead
ing vigorous attack on the army pre-
paredness plans and finding no opposl-
ton, because no one knew the facts.
The preparedness programme was sp-
parently on the rocks. In fact, within
a week one of the strongest supporters
Of preparedness IN the administration
declared that the programme had all
gone TO hell
Reelection at Stake.
President Wilson discovered that his
. chances of reelection, already badly
battered. were dashed TO this ship
wreck. lie had declared for prepared
ness. had made it the only subject IN
his message TO Congress, and had IN
dorsed the policy by every means eN-
cent action. lie could not escape re
sponsibility for II, nor grave loss OF
prestige if it was beaten. And being
already under attack for his Mexican
policy, for his course toward Germany,
for the failure of his fiscal policy and
for other things, he could not afford
another defeat.
Tho Presidents decision 20 fight fol
lowed. and viii be watched here As
direct test of strength between him
self and Bryan. 10 whose efforts has
largely been due the success Of the
Wilson programmes in previous SEES
sions Of Congress. The Bryan men
have declared that the present disor-
oanization Of Congress is due, not 10
snv direct efforts by the Commoner.
hut solely to his having taken his hand
off the machinery. But there has been
no doubt Of the influence Of Bryan
through the West, and the strength
which he has been able TO command
has been a most unpleasant surprise 10
his opponents here.
That the results Of tho present night
will weigh heavily when the Democratic
National Convention meets - generally
agreed here The various factions
which have resented the Presiden.
recent course Bryanitcs, paciiists, poik
hunters and former enemies nave
been getting together. ready 10 take
such opportunities as fortune might
offer. The decision to 20 over the
head, of Congress to the people has
added to their number. II Mr.. wilson
+ fails now, they will be ready TO turn
and rend him.
On the other hand, they admit that
/ = the President wins II Will greatly
strengthen him, not only In the party
but with the people, in the coming
election. The fact that the issue can
not. because Of the opposition Of many
leading Democrats, be made partisan
will not prevent "a very great increase
Of prestige for the President person
allv. and one that he can use DOtn lh
the convention and after II.
Opponents Of the President both ln
/ and out of his party, see IN the decl-
! sion an admission Of desperate straits,
/ and declare that this is last chance
/ the last ditch for him. They point TO
/ his present weakness with Congress as
compared TO the complete domination
/ he exercised with the previous one ana
| 70 the very slight aid and comfort
4 ,,b;ch has heen given TO any or the