New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-12
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD YIELD
Compromise Better than Standing
Pat.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Relative to the idea expressed in
your first column to-day, "Kaiser's officials
said to think many Americans are willing
to compromise" permit me to trespass on
your space for the purpose Of saying that
there are many more Americans who are
willing TO compromise on the common sense
basis of protecting Americans when on pas
senger boats not carrying munitions OF war
or contraband than there are Americans who
are disposed to stand pat on Mr.. wilson's
demand, which is in effect that ole American
on a beligerent passenger boat, however
deeply loaded said boat be with munitions Of
war and contraband, should render said boat
immune to attack.
In fact, and after a trip among business
men, continued every day for ten days, dur
ing which time at least one hundred persons
were conversed with, not one was found who
did not consider President Wilson's demand
as tantamount TO a declaration in favor Oh
the Allies, and the reasoning for this is that
Germauy's concession Of President Wilson's
demand could not result in other than sd'
vantage to the Allies That any one who,
| like President Wilson, is so keenly conscious
Of how unneutral it would be for US to for
bid the export of munitions o. war eoua
possibly frame such demand as ne makes
on the German government can only %
understood by being thoroughly grounded IN
the various meanings which humanity as sh'
is worked from the Executive Mansion can
be made to mean, accordingly IS friend OF
foe be the object.
To man up a tree II would seem that 70
President Wilson the word humanity, as ap'
piled to the German government, carries U'
same meaning now as it carried when applied
| to Huerta; and that the word humanity "heA
used by President Wilson with regard 70
! England and the Allies generally carries mo
same meaning as il did when he applied
to the molly banded cut-throats TO whom "
different times in Mexico he allowed the eS'
portation of arms while denying them "
Huerta In other words, President wilson's
idea of the word humanity or consistency OF
common sense varies accordingly as the VI"
sonian inclination varies.
And this becomes more comical. when II -
not sad, when one remembers that an az
minstration which did not hesitate 20 ~eeh
upon the protection of its own citizens ia
Mexico by ordering our citizens out Of Mex
leo is now squeamish about the usurPauon
Of authority involved in ordering Americans
to keep off belligerent vessels loaded TO 'n'
guards with munitions Of war and contra
band generally.
Seriously, do the anPlophile editors Of th'
city and New England believe that the DUST
ness interest of this country will perm"
them TO drag US into break Of diplomat
relations with Germany over question nA'
this, wherein the German government h''
shown every disposition TO do eyery'h'D,,
that common sense man could require v
his neighbor is TO say, protect amer
can passengers travelling on boats not '''
rying munitions and contraband Of war
Contrasting the supine attitude OF wl'
! Democratic administration toward Eng'ah1'
despite England's riding roughs hod o,'
American commerce never heretofore eohs,D
cred contraband, with the attitude OF 'H'
last Democratic administration b. the Nen.
uela matter, all Americans must blush VIZ,
shame; and this shame is not lghtened ".
is on the contrary deepened when one renee s''s
that the present Democratic adminis'Ia.'y,.
! has a fine navy 20 back up its demands, W.
the last Democratic administration had ny"
ing but tea kettle to back up its demahu'
\ John Bull climbed down OF his perez, ,...
demand by nothing but tea kettle. W.
the exceedingly willy John Bull wolla "
we're a demand made by the present DenY
cratic administration, with our present nsr
behind it, could not be denied oy al ~
! anglophile editors in the Eastern and Nv
England states ,,
MAX II. c. BUMBACHEN
New York, July 3, 1915.