Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-03
THE JUST CRITICISM.


The Register desires to call the at
tention of the esteemed Intelligencer to
an editorial article under the above
caption which appears in the Pittsburg
Dispatch dealing with the widespread
criticism of the management Of the war
by the administration. Our Fourteenth
street neighbor, it will be noted, devotes
a large portion of its more or less valu-
able space 10 defending the administra-
ton from these criticisms, our neigh
Dor assuming off-hand that the admin
istration Is always right and that its
critics, no matter whom they may be.
are Ignorant and don't know what they
are talking about. which is an easy way
of getting around the point of the criti-
cism whether it is convincing or not.
The Dispatch does not take that meth
cd, however of absolving the admins
tration and clearing its skirts of blame
for the palpable and inexcusable delay
and laundering that have characterized
the management of the war. Indeed, the
Dispatch takes occasion to point out
the entire justice of most of this rea-
sonaDle criticism. And right here we
would call special attention to the fact
that the Dispatch is neither a yellow
journal nor a political enemy of the
President, but a Republican paper in
excellent standing and a stanca polit-
ical supporter of Mr.. Mckinley, al
faults of the administration when they
become so glazing, as its more hide
bound partisan contemporaries seem to
feel themselves obligated to do. On
the contrary, the Dispatch lines up with
TIE critics of the administration and de-
clares that it "has earnestly urged a
more vigorous prosecution of the war"
1t holds that the troops that were
ready should be used in those measures
that would contribute more to the pro-
gress Of the war than has been done
yet" and adds: UNLESS tee reports of
the first Matanzas naval skirmish, and
the second one at Cardenas were wholly
false, brigade of regulars with the
support of the navy could have landed
end held either point until they were
reinforced by the insurgents. With the
success that has attended expeditions
to supply the insurgents during the
past week there is hardly any doubt
that If that policy had been vigorously
pushed at the start the condition of the
Cubans would have been much more
advanced than it is, and the United
States could have had several bases of
operation on the Cuban coast; AS 1t
is now the landing of large army in
the face of the unhealthy season, is
much more hazardous than the attempt
to seize and hold die minor ports with
smaller parties would have been a
month ago
Apart from that" declares this Pitts
burg Republican editor. some of the
delays in getting the forces ready are
the subject of fair and sharp criticism.
For instance, during the past few days
reports have come of regiments still I'M
provided with shoes Our cities con-
tain the mercantile machinery for sup
plying 100000 people with shoes. 1t
certainly is a subject for sharp inquiry
who the contractors and quartermasters
are who have been unable in more than
month to supply 100, 600 Similar
illustrations of decided shortcomings
provoke the question: If the army ma
chinery is so defective that it cannot see
the troops properly clothed, fed and
provided with pure water. SO as to
avoid dysentery. typhoid and pneu-
monia In the camps at home. what ex-
nectation is there that the far stricter
and more difficult provision against dis
e,ee from the Cuban climate will be
provided
What does the querulous old lady of
Fourteenth street; who has been Jaw
ire the Register and accusing 1t of all
sorts of partisan meanness for lndi'g-
ing in much milder criticism than that
of the administration management of
the war up to date think of the above
"roast'' of Mr.. Mckinley and his aids
at Washington from one OF her own
party papers. which. however, IS not