The Washington times., 1916-01-23

Since then the situation has somewhat
altered.
With the passing of the Busitania
crisis anu the giving by Germany OF a
promise 10 he good. popular opinion In
the Middle west grew again lndIfcr-
ent Although kept alive in the East
and far West by. continued agitation,
sentiment In the intersections, where
leadership has been lacking. died down.
When the Administration defense pro-
gram was announced shortly before the
converting Of Congress last December
all that members of Congress from the
Middle West returning to Washing. on,
appeared to see was that the program,
was the biggest ever presented, that 1t
would cost lot OF money, and that II
It went through the chances We're that
the Middle West long beneficiary OF
the Congressional pork barrel" would
have to content itself with smaller ap-
preparations for rivers and nostofrice
buildings.
4 Bryan Not Idle.
In the meantime Bryan was not idle
Ills Following In the Middle West mas
always been a respectable sized one,
ana he did not hesitate to capitalize
deIens2 TO the credit of his pacticist
theories. TO what. extent Mr Bryan
was responsible for the back-nres
against preparedness lin these states
siiu SNStioIlS VI Tue Solln Is lOl hllON u
OF course. but when Congress con7
vened and received the Presidents mes
sage smaking national defense the pig
issue OF the session, the remarkable sit
uation existed wherein the Democratic
leaoer OF the House was openly hostile
to him. the chairman of the Senate
steering committee, Senator Kern of In
diana, dubious, and the Democratic
SPEAKER OF the House, Champ Clark
was being accused of flirting with
Bryan.
Constantly widening in extent. this di-
vision been the Democrats into the
camps of preparedness, of Wilson. and
the camp of anti-preparedness, of
Bryan. has existed for approximately
six weeks, with President Wilson all the
while sitting back in/seclusion and say
Ing nothing
Just as the s,Htation is a critical one
from the standpoint of the nationa' de-
fense program, 50, some " the friends
of the Presi lent fear Is II critical from
the STANDPOINT of Democratic prospects
In the election next fall. For long
time there has been the view in certain
Administration quarters that so long as
the country had peace and prosperity
President Wilson'S reelection would be
certain, regardless of Mexico, regard
less of the one-term plank, and regard
less of other objections raised against
him. Recently. however. there. has been
slight readjustment of views.
"OuIu IL LAST
Though still contending that peace
and prosperity could swing the election
to his favor there are some who are
wondering how long prosperity might
last should there come sudden cessa-
ton of hostilities between now and
spring, with the consequent and imme-
date shrinkage of the vast export trade
in munitions, the laying off of munition
factory employees in large numbers. and
with no high tariff TO protect the coun-
try from European exporters anxious to
regain their markets at any cost.
Such a situation. developing suddenly
between now and election time would
1t is pointed out rob the Democrats o.:
their present advantage and leave them
still holding the Mexican Lag and other
vulnerable achievements. Should. on top
of this, the Administration emerge from
the preparedness fight. beaten and with
forces divided. it is believed that there
would be little, If any, hope Of success
in November. The situation, the Ad-
ministration leaders believe, is up to
the President. and upon the results Of
his coming tour throughout the coun-
try, they say, will depend whether he
can still make good.
IITo1ol. Al ~,,@ So. no-.1