The Republican journal., 1915-04-15
CIR JosEPHUs, N. c. B."

Il Harvey Pronounces Daniels The
S"'' competent Secretary Ever Known.
Isn' The North American Review)
f' 'a;rment of perfection in the person
Al: Government cannot be demanded
ii Oh ooson or expected in practice, and
siih t.S;ona consideration must be accord
sc ADMINISTRATION compelled by cir
d 81 ..nres to draw its responsible Off
81 s t[onl the ranks of the inexperienced.
es'a W s;rness, moreover, due allowance
i ~ ~ he made for the delinquencies of
sheI !sns chosen if he be Jealous in the
~ armance of unfamiliar tasks. For
gn'sinstaking application, then. Mr.
he 10 is entitled to full need of
ls1 l, but there, unhappily, favorable
t'elroition ends. Of all the Secretaries
f3'vE Navy from Benz amin Stoddert to
u Won L. Meyer he proved himself
u',~,s5stionably the lesst competent. If
4sss done single useful act, barring
y 5oasted saving at the spigot while
b. ,ro at the bung- hole, the instance
'@, set to be revealed. If he has failed
pmjize an opportunity to discredit both
Y 'c 4e0artment and the Administration,
OMISSION is not apparent.
tis indeed, question whether the
II important and most popular arm of
'ssryice itself has not suffered serious
nuUIic estimation both at home and
t.,sj IN consequence of his persistent
9.,r4anng and Unsuitable craving for
~,,rsty. To smile at the childish vani-
r5je1 prompts the wearing of naval
with civilians costume and such
=. o.turne!-is easy and natural, but
s,-g4r unimportant in seeming, it is
y, laughing matter. If the head of
r,gy can thus not only disregard a
.,.r.rsl' custom. but also fiout strict
W. specific naval regulation, what is
.s-a No be- said of his example to officers
NJ men, And how can be gagged the
H. upon body, supposed to be dis
.,.s to the highest point. of the un-
.umirg compartment of Secretary of
i. NAVY whose visits are awaited Dy
,,ot8os with trepidation and whose
,srsss S Kissed by enlisted men? But
i "a Unnecessary as it is disagreeable
h dwell further upon the decentralization
msritabIy wrought by chief, who is
,sgar8ed by his subordinates as temper
mentally and mentally incapable of ad-
mastering the service.
UT more serious at this critical time,
s,sr ii any moment the navy may be
sIsi upon to perform vitality import
,9t service, is the effect of vagarious
rsf!recton upon the public mind.
Whether or not Mr.. Edward S. Martin,
ken and competent observer, IS correct
IN fascinating that not more than six per-
an. cut Of our hundred millions of peo-
1s would fail to heave sigh of relief
Al rae withdrawal or removal of Mr..
0a6lsis from his present post, there is
10, shadow of doubt that he has for
Fitted the confidence of the country. His
rreatei declarations, notably at the |
rs,snt launching of the Pennsylvania,
l1s; the navy is fully prepared for battle,
tn face of testimony to the contrary
Sy every admiral, who has been question
Cd and Of the bold but patriotic assertion
d. th= President of the War College that
war is one thing for which no arrange
ngnt IS made" have come to be regard |
d as no more than the puerile chatter
Of an Incompetent official fatuously at
tempting selfjustifcation. These words,
though not so intended, sound bitter,
mt alas! they are true-only too sadly |
tue at time such as this, when pallia-
ton u silence would be little short of |
criminal.
Occasional tolerant reference is made
70 Secretary Daniels "amiability," and
none would deny the normal kindness of
snaturs which impels endeavors in the
interest Of fellowb beings, even though
glc9 striving be without the scope of
otcal duty, But a genial disposition is
ml invariably allied with either com
graheHs-on or judgment. Puppies are
trisndIy enough, but one would hardly
@t Them TO the work of ferret. And
Dr. Daniels is not, as is so commonly
Hnas6sa, merely a misfit. A round peg
10 glare hole is inadequate as an eX-
aeas,on Of a condition when it is quite
GrloIs that, if the hole were round, the |
Fs would be square. The simple truth |
D. srs case, moreover, demonstrated |
@s. aud over again. is that back of self
mSacls easy-going there turks that |
1-4rabie obduracy which so often |
aa' s.-eclzes and dominates a narrow
aa4 abaIl2W mentality.
VIZ cneerfully accord to Mr.. Daniels
5aa'ever credit there may lie in a lack
y con rehension of the magnitude of
DIS handicap to the Administration, but
We ace no less strongly convinced that
-e -1.I-st understanding would convey
" As conscience no sense of obligation
" L4.l5Ve the President to whom he is
90 lhnoaerateiy indebted of burden
Ellc1 would break the back of any but |
41 L. extraordinary Administration.
10 ende the President for not Kidding
.1'ell and the country of such clog is
sasy but none cognizant Of the present
Placai situation within the Democratic |
F3r'y can fail to recognize the hazard of
OL7na'ng the Secretary of State and the
ss,D! u teetotallers whose apostle he
aas become.
~ Il Is IDLE, then, to murmur Intellectually,
now long, 0 Lord, how long!" Naught
. .5.I but to minimize so far as pos
f fl4s. the dismay which attends the pro-
D-g'!Ily Of being compelled in 1916 to
meet the cry:
n, = vote for Wilson is a vote for
Danies no less than for Mr.. Bryan
lI,, 1lt, and for others who must pa
ss sHI5y await their turn in our weighing
s,n. 'heir respective achievements and