Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-29
SHELVING OF WOOD
AROUSES j. S. ARMY
IContinued from First Page.J
and administrator has rendered splen-
did service to the country.
Wood The Man Fitted

and administrator has rendered splen-
did service to the country.
Wood the Man Fitted
This Man Is General Leonard Wood,
who has Just retired from the position
of chief of staff Of the army, in which
capacity he has had charge of the
planning for just this emergency. He
is available for this service, he is the
one man fitted for it. But into the
Presidents ear has been whispered
the tale that such action would be
unwise from his own standpoint.
1t has been represented to him that
il General Wood went promptly to the
front and won battles and restored
order, this would make him a popular
hero and a possible nominee for Presi-
dent in 1916.
This is one Of the facts of the situa-
ton. It is one that is having serious
effect. 1t has already been power
! full enough to postpone the sending of
the regular army Of the United States
| to the place where it is imperatively
needed. The plans that the army and
navy experts carefully and scientifi-
cally worked out are left idle and USE
1885, Inc SlludtlOH Ildu peeH Stuulcu,
the trouble did not come upon us un-
awareS.
A complete plan OF action had been
formed. The regular troops were to
60 to Mexico, and the militia were to
be stationed at the border. Colonel
GOethaIs had announced that the PEN
anna Canal. was now in such state of
compietion that q dreadnought could
pass through with perfect safety.
One feature OF the plan was to have
an American battleShip go through
and station itself at the Pacific end
OF the canal.
1t was figured this proceeding would
have an important double effect. 1t
would show to Mexico that both of
her shores were within easy access
of the American fleet. And it would
terd to calm any hostile spirit In
Japan by its proof of the availability
of any number of ships at any time.
But no one can get the President to
consider these vital safeguards. He
will not see the officers who have
planned for just the present emer-
gency. He will not give proper hear
ing to the Secretary of War as to
necessary steps to be taken.
Atmosphere of Bryan
President Wilson is living in an at
mosphere created by Mr.. Bryan. The
one who is doing the most to shape
the administration policy is the Sec
retary of State. Constantly the view
lis being impressed upon the White
House that If there is to be war il
must be a little war, nothing that can
arise hereafter to plague a profess
sional apostle of peace. 1t is the
Bryan influence that has come between
the President and the Secretary of
no ic in IA ed
The Bryan policy has one particular
goal, an alliance of the United States
with General Pancho Villa. For a gov
eminent to refuse to recognize Presi-
dent Huerta because in its opinion he
came to power with uncIean hands
and then to treat with and attempt
to ally itself with a bandit command
er. with a record of unspeakable
crimes, is an action that adjectives
a. powerless to picture.
Two Against Bryan
Two members of the Cabinet are
standing firm for a policy of decent
consistency and manly action. These
are Secretary Garrison and Secretary
Lane. But they are laboring in an at
mosphere beclouded by the incense
burned by Mr.. Bryan before his two
idols, Villa and Carranza, who have
both flouted the United States before
the world. Once the present Secretary
of State was a comedy in admins
tration, but now he is a tragedy.
The direct consequences will follow
a longer control of the situation by the
influences that now surround Mr.. Will
son.
The people of the United States
are behind President Wilson in his en-
deavor to uphold the national honor.
They tender to him both resources and
lives in defense of our good name
among nations. But they have a right
to demand equal consideration upon
his part. They have a right to de-
mand that proper measures be taken
while yet there is time, that the Presi-
dent avail himself of the advice of
men who know whereof they speak.
They have a right to demand that the
Bryan trail be eliminated from mill
tary plans and planning. The time
for the exploitation of theory is not
when the lives of American soldiers
and citizens are at stake.
The commander-in chief of the
armed forces of the United States
should not abdicate in favor of the
60 i