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Show oo (MEKEON Washington, Nov 19 President Wilson and Speaker Champ Clark of the house of representatives held nn important conference at tho White House late this afternoon on the president's' pres-ident's' preparedness program. In a general way the speaker assured the president of his support, 'leclar-tng 'leclar-tng In favor of a "reasonable program." pro-gram." After the conference Speaker Clark stated that he could not yet say whether he thought the president's program was "reasonable- as lie was not acquainted with the details of the administration's plan. The belief that the speaker will take charge of the fight upon the floor in behalf of tho program, how-o' how-o' er, was strengthened by :ih adniip-pion adniip-pion that he intends to leave 'the chair during the coming session aud speak in favor of certain measur-3 whenever ocrcsion demands. rlis keen intereot in the subjf.ct of preparedness pre-paredness was manifested today by his announcement that ho has prepared pre-pared a bill to provide su'ient officers of-ficers for any reserve force Unit may be created. No Fight on Kitchin. The speaker said he does not believe be-lieve a fight will be made to oust Representative Rep-resentative Claude Kitchin from the post of majority leader because of his announced opposition to the administration adminis-tration program Interest still continues, con-tinues, however, in the unusur.l situation situa-tion which has been brought about by Mr. Kltchin's declaration, especially as he is to be the new chairman of the ways an.l means committee.' In this position he will be called upon to provide revenue to carry out the preparedness program to which ho is opposed. Members or the ways and means committee aid today they believe Mr. Kltchin's efforts against tho program will be merely personal aud he will not opposo it in his offlciil capacity as majority leader. Representative Henry T. Rniney of Illinois, ranking member of the committee, com-mittee, who. with Representative F. J. Garrett of Tennessee has been mentioned men-tioned as a possible successor to Kitchin should the North Carolinian be deposed, said: "Freedom of action has always been counted good democracy. The Democratic party in congress, therefore. there-fore. Is not going to punish a man for taking a stand dictated by his conscience. con-science. Kitchin will not be deposed as floor leader because he opposes an Increase In the army and navy." Confidence In Kitchin. If M. Kitchin loses his fight it is the opinion of his fellow members that ho will take up the question of providing revenues to carry out the program without reference to his per-, sonal feelings in the matter. Speaker Clark arrived here this afternoon af-ternoon and called at tho White House at 6:30 o'clock. Most of the time he spent with the president was devoted de-voted to a general discussion of ways and means of producing revenue at the coming session. Before he went to the White House the speaker declared that in his opln- i ion one or perhaps two of .he ilruuiy informally proposed measures lor raising tho funds necessjarj to put into practice the preparedness program pro-gram would bo followrtsd. The possibilities possi-bilities mentioned by the speaker were a . revision t ihe Income tax sched- Ule, n retention of the dutv on sugar a re-enactment of the emergency war measure and the salo of Panama canal ca-nal bonds. The bill that the speaker Intends offering at the coming session will provide for a doubling of the West Point and Annapolis cadets allowed the president and the members of congress. con-gress. This will be only the beginning, begin-ning, as the speaker sees it, for his bill will provide also for the admission admis-sion to the army and navy academies of any young American who can meet all requirements as to education, physique and morals. , Such cadets, however, will be required to defray the actual expenses of their training In the government institutions. Services Are Needed. The speaker explained that the largo numbers of young men who were so educated, In addition to the cadets regularly appointed with a view of receiving commissions In two branches of the regular service, would be an invaluable service to the country coun-try as material for "officering either a reserve force or a volunteer army." The speaker suggested also that in the event of the United States ever acquiring merchant vessels, the civilian civil-ian cadets from Annapolis might be appointed to command them. Another strong advocate of national defense, Senator James D Phelan of California, came to Washington today determined to do all he can to put this country in a condition of preparedness pre-paredness against war nn |
