University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-03-04
such as the nation has not witnessed

4
Woodrow Wilson is a great leader
Whether or not he will be considered
a great President one can hardly say
Much OF any criticism that may be
made of him now is but a considera-
tion of events. But even in looking al
the perhaps isolated events. there is
some opportunity of judging what
these two years of Wilson have been
In any such survey his Legislative
program and the foreign policy over
shadow everything else.
The tariff is usually the beginning Of
a Presidents troubles, and the Under
wood Act has not been an exception.
Mr.. Wilson is now engaged in main
tanning that business is adjusting itself
to the new tariff. But is it? Can 1t
ever adjust itself? There are too
many examples of its failure under
other compromise measures for his
simple statement to carry conviction.
1t offers, some one has said, none Of
the balanced compensations of a low
tariff, none of the stimulus of pro-
tective tariff. At any rate the farm
ers of the grain belt are loath to begin
their part of the adjusting to meet con-
ditions in other lines where there were
no changes. And so, in other indus.
tries. Mr.. Wilson says, too, there is
no depression in business After all
we begin to suspect that there may be
some ground for the statement that the
President is not at home in the busi-
ness world. A glance over his trust
prosecutions and administrative at
tacks on the railroads lends some color
to the suspicion.
The value of the currency law. toned
down from the Presidents idea by the
Senate, depends upon the members of
a board appointed by the President, an
uneasy resting-place for an authority
over the financial system of an entire
country. When the crises came few
months ago it was under the vreeland-
Aldrich Act that the credit and busi-
ness interests of the country were
protected. The federal reserve bank
act had been passed months before.
but was not called into action. While
the European crisis was being passed.
it lay in Washington, bulky and cum
bersome.
Mr.. Wilson announces that we will
now let Mexico settle its own affairs.
The government made it impossible for
the Huerta government to stand. and
favored the Constitutionalists enough
to encourage them but not enough for
them to triumph" And now when there
is nearly hopeless confusion and our
citizens N Mexico are in Aed of pro-
lection, the government has with.
drawn ito let the Mexicans settle their
own affairs" If the President had been
looking for perfect policy in the be-
ginning he would have found it in this
resolution and the admonition that
Mexico must respect our citizens. It's
rather late now. He went to Vera
Cruz.
The moral responsibility for the
government incurred by our
note to the other countries does not
our diplomatic position.
Nor has the position on the European
war added to our influence as nation
A protest against the breaking of the
Hague conventions by the invasion of
Belgium would have helped us, and
made easier the cause of peace after
the war.
So survey Of some of the events in
the two years of Wilson leaves doubt
as to the wisdom of all his policies.
It is not likely that all this doubt will
be dissipated by time.-E. C.