The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-12
Opposition to Preparedness Plans Is Taking Many and Devious Embarrass- ing Forms
EFFORT TO MAKE
 PEACE WITH CLARK
 IS ANOTHER STRAW
Wilson's Avowed Candidacy in Indiana Is Expected to Give Bryan the OppOrtun- ity He Has Been Seeking
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

Washington, January 11.-tSpe-
 ciay.)-That William J. Bryan is
 preparing to strike is the opinion of
 capitol politicians.
 1t is frankly said in Washington
 that President Wilson will be nOmi-
 mated in St. Louis for another term
 over the protest--the violent Opposi-
 ton, in fact--of the Commoner.
 That the former Secretary of State
 has withheld his hand up to the
 present time Is because, it Is be-
 Iieved, he has not completed his
 programme, or found any dis
 tinguished American anxious to join
 him In defeating the President, and.
 as natural sequence, the demo-
 cratic party.
 But now the psychological moment, in the opinion of students of national politics, has arrived.
 OPENING FOR BRYAN
 For, despite the plank in the plat form-inserted by MT. Bryan when he exercised control over the Baltimore convention-which pledged the party nominee to advocate an amendment to the constitution limiting the service of a President to one term, MT. Wilson is an avowed candidate for the presidency. His lieutenants, in other words, with the consent of the chief executive. have au- thorized the democrats of Indiana to enter the President in preferential primary.
 Mir. Bryan, wiien in Washington some days ago. declined to discuss Mir. Will son, declined te declare what his course of action would be-until9 the President should make 1t known whether or not he would stand for another term.
 The Commoner, prominent member of Congress declares, promised to have something to say as soon as the Presi- dent should make knownihis plans.
 The President has made known his plans. Therefore. Mr. Bryan, in the inn mediate future, is expected to strike.
 SOUGHT SPEAKER CLARK
 An interesting story in this connection is in circulation It is reported that MT. Bryan. while in Washington, made an effort to confer with Speaker Clark.
 It Is said that MT. Bryan addressed a note to the speaker SuS&eBt1nE that the two come together and discuss "pre- paredness and national politics."
 It is said that Speaker Clark, in mal<- ing reply, expressed the opinion that n conference between the two would re- suit in nothing of good to the country or the party.
 It is a matter of speculation as to whether or not MT. Bryan was paving the way for a reconciliation with the speaker, out of whose hands he snatched the democratic nomination-probably the presidency-at Baltimore.
 That the speaker declined to discuss public questions with MT Bryan, may resentment over MT. Bryan's course at Baltimore, and to his apparent intention of standing for President Wilson in tho St. Louis convention.
 HIS OPEN FIGHTING
 Openly, the Nebraskan is inveighing against the Presidents programme of preparedness He offers congratulations to representatives who utter public pro- tests against the plan of increasing the strength of the army and the navy. He is inundating Leader Kitchin-who is opposed to preparedness-with edi- torials from the Commoner, his monthly newspaper. As to whether or not it Is MT. Bryan's plan to maintain the Caro- linian's backbone in a state of stiff ness," or to furnish him with new and froceful argumentative ammunition, is not clearly established.
 Mr. Sherwood of Ohio was the most
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