New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-18
Call Congress Together!

and timely lelACl 4lolsl CtiS va wa -N''>'N'
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your correspondent, W. l., IN your
issue OF June 10 calls attention 10 the I'M
pcrat.vc necessity Of an extra session OF Con
gress. & our diplomacy IS ever TO amount 10
ANYTHING more than an academic discussion
Talking much ana doing nothing WILL soon
make us ridiculous. In fact, there is already
& slight tone Of opera boUtfe IN our dlpIo-
macy. which will continue until the President
indicates q more serious purpose 70 omit no
necessary deed by calling Congress together
Congress should be convened:
lst To remedy long standing defects IN our
military and naval organization.
2rd TO ascertain the further will and pur-
nose Of tho people through their responsible
representatives.
8rd. To assure Germany and others that
we are in solemn, though peaceful, earnest
in what we have said.
cannot understand why the President did
not summon the supper: Of Congress imme-
diately upon the dispatch OF his first note.
! also cannot understand why The Tribune
on June 2, in its leading editorial, urged for
Just reasons the assembling Of Congress, and
then instantly became silent on the subject
Why should q proceeding so natural, so
prouer. 80 entirely without menace be de-
sorted by Us advocate? Or has a habit Of
irconsccuential utterance affected Us all in
these iointess times? The Tribune believes
that q speedy extra session OF Congress IS
for the best interests Of the country. Speak
O. little louder, please.
GEORGE L. STOWELL.
Dorset, VI, June Is, 1918.
Since our editorial urging the assem-
bling Of Congress was published many
things have happened to divert attention
temporarily from the question Of calling
an extra session. Mr.. Bryan's resigna-
ton and the second Lusitania note to Ger
many have occupied the public mind to the
exclusion Of other topics, and The Tribune
wished TO avoid even the appearance Of
seeking to cmbarrass the President at
time when he was steering his admins
tration through q domestic as we'll as
through an international crisis.
Mr.. Bryan has now left the Cabinet and
left it on an issue which apparently COM
mits Mr.. Wilson 10 q fuller recognition Of
the necessity Of being prepared to main
tain the Just demands Of the United States,
if other means fail us, through resort to
force. Under such circumstances we feel
that we can again advocate the assem-
bling Of Congress for purposes Of military
preparation without subjecting ourselves
to the charge Of alphabetically making
the way harder for our harassed and bur
dened President.
II is obvious, Of course, that Mr.. Wilson
does not want to ask Congress TO share
with him the responsibility Of shaping our
military policy. According TO his own
statement he regretted the break which
forced Mr.. Bryan's resignation. He Is re-
luctant to dispense with the services Of
Mr.. Daniels, who has been conducting the
Navy Department on the same basis on
which Mr.. Bryan conducted the State De-
partment. lie naturally shrinks from ad-
hitting that he misjudged the situation
when in his last message TO Congress he
deprecated any hurried or anxious effort
to develop our military resources and
strengthen our national defence.
It IS unpleasant for a politician to ad-
nit that he has not read the signs Of the
times Alright. But as a statesman and a
patriot the Presidents duty is absolutely
clear. He is without authority and with
out the means to repair the deficiencies in
the navy and TO create a real army to re-
place our present weak and skeletonized
force.
Congress alone can provide the funds
for proper military and naval establish
ments, and every day now lost in military
preparation helps to paralyze our influence
as a nation which knows its rights and is
determined to assert them by arms, if the
worst comes 10 the worst.
II Mr.. Wilson should ask for Mr..
Daniels's resignation and then call Con-
gress in session, our military wants could
be provided for and within six weeks the
work Of reorganization could be under way
Until it is under way powers which are
willing 70 pick quarrels with US may well
continue 70 doubt whether we are going to
back up diplomacy with action.
X..It.,1, NJa,tanv, nH.o