Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-02-03
WILSON'S TOUR TO
DECIDE HIS FATE
Preparedness Speeches Of Great
importance to Political Future.
POPULARITY is At STAKE.
Some Leaders Say That the Average
Business Man 10 Opposed to the
President and Will Vote Against
Him-FairIy Accurate Opinion Can
Be Formed After His Trip.


De oFmo0 ATtCF
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Feb. 3.-[Speciall-lt
will be interesting To note the effect or
the trips and speeches Of President VII
son upon his political fortunes. Some
time will elapse before any one Will
know whether he has created senu-
ment upon the subject OF preparedness
which will aid his program. but there
ought TO be a fairly just estimate OF
the political standing OF the president
after he has completed his tours and
opinions begin to be expressed concern
fng his chances to be reelected.
That the president must work hard
for his political popularity there
seems TO be little question. Ii has
been apparent for several months that
the Republicans were highly elated
over their prospects, and they believe
that they have good opportunity to
win the next election.
Business Element Dissatisfied
Some who have had an opportunity
to talk with business men say that
Notwithstanding the large volume OF
business which is now being transact
ed In the country there is a general OPP
position among business men to the
president. Some persons 40 SO far as
10 say IA lot Of business men are wait
ing 10 get Il crack at the president
And. strange to say. many of these
men do not express any particular in
terest in the Republican candidate.
They seem TO take II for granted that
the Republicans are going TO nominate
man they can vote for
Navy Best Defense.
senator swanson OF Virginia does
not expect o. see the program of the
administration adopted. as presented.
For Instance. he says that there will
bee mo- large increase in the military
establishment This country does
not want and won't have a large
standing army" remarked the senator
There will he little increase in the
army but il is likely that congress
viii go further in the matter of naval
increase than the administration has
asked A powerful navy is the guar
antee of safety
In all Europe today London is the
only capital that is absolutely safe
from capture by an enemy. and II Is
safe on account OF the British navy
We can make ourselves absolutely Sc
cure by a large navy. for no country
will attack Us while we have a power
FIJI navy"
Will Il Be Smothered7
Two years ago the house passed a
good roads bill similar TO that. which
passed recently The fate of that bill
was never for a moment In doubt. 1t
was smothered in the senate Several
counter propositions were presented
and allowed to linger on the shelf un-
I'll il was too late TO do anything. II
is a good guess that the same process
will be worked again this year.
Jim MARITIME In Eruption.
Every once in awhile Jim MARITIME
goes berserk against the Republican
party and like fierce windmill,
roaring lion or anything that makes
noise and looks threatening General
ly his text is newspaper clipping
that good times prevail throughout the
country
He gets results. too. for ON one re
cent occasion he put up Gallinger,
Lippitt and Brandegee. all New Eng
land senators. who had To come TO the
rescue of the manufacturers and the
tariff In that section OF the country.
He Was For Pensions.
Congressman Thomas of Kentucky
created quite lot of amusement In
the house over the opposition of sew
eral southern men TO pensions. First
he tackled Howard of Georgia. "He.i is
simply against pensions-all pensions"
he said. II am for all pensions. That
is the difference between us"
Il am going TO get all the pensions
for Kentucky | can" he continued. 81
would rather the money should go
down into Kentucky than up among
the icicles in Maine. | will say to my
friend Howard that he is butting his
head against n stone wall"
''Ill admit IT," interjected Howard
Then why do you continue TO be so
foolish?" asked Thomas.
Then he included Tribble of Georgia
with Howard. This stuff of these two
men from Georgia getting up here ev-
cry time we have a pension bill is fool
ish. They hop up and raise mischief
about something and do not know what
they are raising il about. My advice
Is that they quit it,"
Can Do What He Wants.
Congressman Raker of California had
grievance against Jim Mann. The
minority leader had been roweling
the Californian pretty hard, and Raker
finally felt hurt. lie talked about the
''unkind comments Of Mann. II real
ize his astrteness." went on Raker,
and ] realize that he has great body
OF men ON the other side behind him
and he can demand anything he wants,
but ne often makes improper use OF
his power and his language
Catarrh Cannot Be Cured
with LOCAL APPLICATIONS. as they
cannot reach the seat OF the disease.
Catarrh is a local disease. greatly in
Anoprad hv roneffftfffnnal conditions