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Show PREPAREDNESS IS THE ISSUE President Proposed Tour in Support of Armament Holds Attention. " "Washington, Jan. 23. Presidem Wilson's determination to talk to the people of the middle west on national preparedness has had the effect of restoring re-storing that issue as the uppermost subject of Interest and discussion In congress. For several weeks preparedness has been overshadowed by the Mexican problem and international questions growing put of the European war. Now, however, with the president about to tour the country to arouse the publlo to military requirements of the nation, administration and opposition op-position leaders realize that lively times are ahead on Capitol hill. Democratic leaders thoroughly in sympathy with the president's views on preparedness are gratified over the purpose of the chief executive to take the field, inasmuch as there has been apparent In congress for some time a tendency to adopt a waiting policy among many members uncertain uncer-tain regarding the views of their constituents con-stituents on the subject. Will Serve Double Purpose. The president's tour, it is believed, will serve the double purpose of bringing bring-ing out public opinion and stirring up members of congress. On the other hand, opponents of preparedness pre-paredness see in the president's trip an opportunity to further their cause by replying to his arguments in the senate and house. Uneasiness over the Mexican citua-tlon citua-tlon which stired congress for more than a week, has greatly abated and probably will not be revived soon unless un-less notable developments should occur oc-cur in Mexico. Administration lead ers regard the danger of being forced into difficulties with Carranza averted for the present, and oven Republicans of the senate have concluded not to force the issue of intervention to a vote at this time. Borah Quiet For Time Being. Senator Borah, one of the foremost believers in the necessity of military action in Mexico by the United States, has decided that there is nothing to be done at this time. When the senate sen-ate foreign relations committee declined de-clined to act on intervention resolutions resolu-tions last week, Senator Borah had contemplated a motion to discharge tho committee from further consideration consider-ation of the resolutions, but a canvass of the Republicans showed them almost al-most unanimously against Buch a move. Some time during the week Representative Repre-sentative Humphrey of Washington expects to make a speech assailing the administration's Mexican policy. It also is probable that President Wilson's Wil-son's reply to the senate, in which a mass of detail, regarding Carranza and Mexico will be included, will serve to arouse interest of congress again. It is probable now that this reply will not be sent to the senate until the president returns from his western tour. European Situation. Interest still is apparent at the cap-Uol cap-Uol In the European situation, but no legislative action is looked for. Embargo resolutions have been submitted sub-mitted to a sub-committee on foreign relations and no report is anticipated for some time. With regard to legislation in general, gen-eral, both houses continue to travel slowly notwithstanding efforts of administration ad-ministration leaders to speed up the legislative machinery. Cpmmittees have been urged to work faster, and signs of progress are looked for during dur-ing the coming week. The immigration bill, with its lier-acy lier-acy test, will be reported, this week. Feeling over this measure is high even .in the committee, and its appearance ap-pearance on the floor is expected to precipitate heated arguments. |