The Washington times., 1916-01-23

since then the situation mas somewhat
Altered.
With the passing of the Lusitania
crisis ana the giving ny Germany OF a
promise 80 be good, popular opinion In
the Middle west grew again mdiifor-
ent, Although kept alive in the vast
sentiment In the intersections, where
leadership has been lacking, died DOWN.
When the Administrator defense pro-
gram was announced shortly before the
convenlng of Congress last December
all That members OF Congress- from the
Middle West returning TO Washington.
appeared TO see was that the program
was the biggest ever presented, that u
would cost lot OF money. and that II
it went through the chances were that
the Middle West, long a beneficiary or
the Congressional pork barrel" would
have to content itself with smaller APP
preparations for rivers and nostofrice
buildings,
Bryan Not Idle.
In the meantime Bryan was not idle
lfis Following In the Middle West mas
always been a respectable sized one,
ana he did not hesitate to capitalize
the growing apathy toward nationaI
defense TO the credit OF his pacitcist
theories. TO what extent Mr. Bryan
was responsible for the back-nres
against preparedness I'm tnese states
.
of course but when Congress cons
vened and received the Eresident's mes-
sage smaking national defense the Dig
issue OF the session, the remarkable slt-
uation existed wherein the Democratic
leaqet 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
Constantly widening in extent. this de
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.
lust as the suitation Is a critical one
from the standpoint OF the nations de-
fense program, so. some AZ the friends
OF the President fear, is It critical from
the STANDPOINT of Democratic prospects
In the election next fall. For a 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
a slight readjustment of views.
Would 1t Last?
Though still contending that peace
and prosperity could swing the election
to his favor there are some who are
how long prosperity might
last should there come sudden cessa-
ton of hostilities between now and
spring, with the consequent and imme-
diate 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 situation, developing suddenly
between now and election time would.
II is pointed out, rob the Democrats OF
their present advantage and leave them
still holding the Mexican lag and other
achievements. Should on top
of this, the Administration emerge from
the preparedness fight, beaten and with
forces divided. II Is believed that there
would be little, II any, hope of success
in November. The situation, the Ad-
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.
Walsh Move for peaca