Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-05
PREPAREDNESS
TO Be BEATEN,
CAPITAL HEARS
Detection of Senator Kern Pre-
dicted as Severe Blow to
Administration Program.
LEADERS OF BOTH HOUSES
NOW AGAINST PROPOSALS
Senate Chief Finds People at
Home Are .opposed-Many
Congressman Switch.
LEADERS OF BOTH HOUSES
NOW AGAINST PROPOSALS
Special to the evening Star.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Unless
materially modified the preparedness
issue is beaten. At least this is the
opinion, authoritatively learned today.
OF the administration itself.
Detection of Senator John W. Kern,
Senate Democratic leader, from the
forces working for the great army
and navy program outlined by the
president in his message to Congress
was the final proof to the White
House that its plans will not carry.
Kerns decision that he cannot sup
port the program became known to-
day. That the people of Indiana are
opposed is Kerns chief reason, it is
said
This leaves the preparedness pro-
gram unsupported by the leaders in
both houses. Kitchen, house majority
leader, has held off from the first,
but Kern, warm Wilson admirer, has
been expected to lead the administra-
tons Senate fight.
Kern Refuses Confirmation.
Kern today refused to confirm the
report as to his attitude. Il will
stand by my statement that gener-
ally 1 will support the program, al
though as to yhich of the several
plans proposed ] shall approve | cam
not say" he said.
The political and personal relation
ship between Bryan and Senator
Kern has always been close. The
detection of the Indiana senator is
directly traced to the Nebraskan,
who is said to have spent two days
with House Leader Kitchin during
the past week planning against the
administration program.
Leaders with whom he has talked
say that Bryan is viciously bitter
against the presidents program and
is threatening to stump the country
prior TO the Democratic convention,
10 arouse sentiment against prepared
ness and against a second term for
Wilson.
They say that while Bryan has no
intention OF bolting the action of the
convEltion, should it support the
president, he hopes to prevent this
support.
Discouraging Reports Received.
The wave of sentiment for great
preparedness program, which a few
weeks ago Was sweeping the country,
apparently has reached its crest,
some administration leaders think
Today President Wilson is receiving
many discouraging reports. The op-
position centers upon Secretary Gar
rison's army plan The people "back
home" don't like it, many congress-
men report.
Letters pouring into the offices of
Democrats and Republican leaders
protest against it in such force that
many who originally favored the pro-
gram are now against 1T.
An indication today that the Aus
trian crisis might reflect strength to
the administration program came in
o telegram to the White House from
the Democratic State central commit
tee of Mississippi telling that Ven
able had been elected to Congress
after making an out-and-out fight for
preparedness.
Navy Increases Certain.
That material navy increases can be
obtained is not doubted. Admins
tration officials still are confident two
battleships and a large number of
auxiliaries will be authorized by
Congress.
Preparedness hearings, which prom
ise to last for months, were begun
by the House navaT committee today.
Tomorrow the army program Will be
taken up by the House military COM
mittee with Secretary of War Garri-
son the first witness. Senate naval
and military committees will mark
time while the House hearings pro-
gress.
Rear Admiral II. r. Stanford, chief
of the navy bureau OF yards and
docks, was the first witness. Need
for more government docks where
battlesbips and smaller warcraft can
be built was the tenor of Admiral
Standford's statements today. Com
mitteemen manifest interest in asser-
tons that there are only five estab-
lishments in the United States where
battleships may be built.