The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-11
Pres. Wilson's
Party Reverse
By DAVID LAwH1No1'
(ccpyrtgat ny The 1ntslltSsaesf)

WASHINGTON, Feb. le-ream-work
Is An essential In party government and
President Wilson's defeat at the hands
70 take his advice about universal mill
tary training Is an excellent example
OF tho loose connection or defective
White House and Capitol Hill. . circum-
stance that has on more than one occas-
ION threatened to be troublesome put
has never como to the surface 30 clearly
As In the vote OF lOI 70 Ss against
White House request
Tho President has been secluded %
much that he isn't aware OK Wnst -
going on inside his own party. IheTe
was no real necessity for a caucus S,t 81
tAry training. The Republican leader
ship OF Representative Monden had al
ready expressed unalteraole opposition
TO the scheme on the ground OF expense.
There was, moreover, no necessity for q
letter from the White House 70 tho
Democrats advising them on the matter
for once the caucus was caled-aho the
plan TO hold Il has been under way Tor
: week-the President might have dis,
covered on consulting any el-informeo
member Of the Democratic party in the
House that the preponderant sentiment
vas against universal military rGy1,nsIsorS sssS,rS
or training that has any compulsory
feature In t.
Rut II. Wilson, without finding out
the situation In the House. sent q letter
not merely advising that the Democrats
FrSncisco Convention to determine what
ahAll be the issues or the DemocreIlo
party In tho campaign, but giving al the
game time an endorsement OF the uni
yersaI military training plan. Had ne
failed TO commit himself and merely
urged postponement, the blow that came
IA the vote OF l07 to So would nave
been merely q difference Of opinion as
TO the proper time to make = declAration
on tho subject and not q distinct object
ion 10 the principle Of military training
approved by the President and Secretary
Baker and the general stan OF tne army; army
branch Of the government discovered
II IL about time that the executive
that unmerited as the opinion may pe.
the general stan 10 hardly popular on
Capitol Hill. Mer4erses OF the orusqtN
treatment received by members OF the
House and Senate during the war Wnen
they used to sit cooling their heels OUT
side the offices OF lteutenants, captains
colonels and generals, ara only too 1resh
in the minds of our legislators VINO
never forget such things anyway"
But fundamentally. the Democratic
members of the House who are opposed
20 military training hail from the west
aud south. As for the latter section.
soiutely opposed to military training
largely because of fear that to arm
the negro youth OF the country three
months OF tho year might mako II dini-
cult to nAnQl0 Salu youth NIiG pAAloa NAV
months. Southern members are always
sensitive about any piece OF legislation
Ihat touches the race question and tney
are having too many postwar trouoies
on the race question anyway to expert
ment with universal military training
In time OF peacs-
As for tho West, tho objection seems
10 be that farm labor 10 scarce enought
ricuIture caused by the WAT time con-
scrlption Is too recent to permit or any
peace time scheme that Is even rem0teiy
analogous to tho selectlVe draft' Ihere
ara western members OF course who ar
que In favor of military training on
the g6und that II helps the health OF
the nations youth and gives us a pre-
paredness for war which We didn't have
when the European war came. But the
trend seems to be to return TO tho same
state Of suspicion about large military
establishment now as the West had
when President Wilson campSigned Tor
Secretary Garrison's continental army
and eserve system. Members from tho
West say their constituents are not ex-
big war for the next ten years d least
because tho world Is In a state OF econ-
omic and financial exhaustion.
The question Is by no means disposed
Of The Republican party Is In control
Of both branches OF the goyernment and
the Republican leaders OF the House
against the Senate leaders on this issde
is due 20 the same line OF reasoning
which western Democrats have ad-
vanced Even with the support Of the
American Legion. IL Is doubtful whether
the plan would go through as Repub-
licans and Democrats fear the women
voters are opposed to the scheme. that
farmers don't wont II. and that organ
ized labor is far from enthusiastic about
the creation OF large federal force
that might upon oSasion DO used for
strike duty.
disappointed that his party didn't follow
him Some OF his friends have never
believed ne was especially keen for uni
,ersal military training himself tho.rh
no has srdC rsed the idea before with the
prov iso that Il would be accompanied
Iy vocational education. His perfunct-
10 do with the calm way in which the
House Democrats ignored his coulmuni
cation on the subject. Insofar as the
having rcbuked their leader in the White
"a difference OF opinion ON ono question
and does not involve the entire subject
Of Wilson leadership. as they argue,
will be demonstrated whenever the oc-
casion for such show down arises
But dis.ntsreSted observers cannot but
be impressed with the fact that as 1t
becomes apparent that Woodrow Wilson
isn't going TO run FOR third term
nis leadership hangs IN the balance.
Each Democrat IN the House Is inclined
20 shift for himself this presidential
yAar or at least Until q candidate IS
nominated al San Francisco 10 lead the