New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-13
Leader-or Trailer ?

Leader-or Trailer!
"The Times" is calling loudly on Presi-
dent Wilson to interpose in the dispute be-
tween the House and the Senate over army
reorganization and to save the day for the
hard pressed Senate bill. In other words
it wants Mr.. Wilson to be a real leader in
the present crisis. Congressman, it says
must heed the President when their duty
is made plain to them in his direct and
forcible way"
We should be glad to believe that the
Democratic majority in the House of Rep
resentatives would heed Mr.. Wilson if he
ever got to the point of advising it to &C
cept the Senate's bill. Yet we doubt if the
House can any longer be influenced to
abandon its own opinions and relax its
grip on the militia "pork barrel" at sug-
gestion from the President. Two years
ago his will was law at the Capitol. 1t is
not law any longer. His prestige as a
party leader has been shattered. He may
still command, but the Democrats in Con-
gress no longer listen.
1t is no exaggeration to say that since
Secretary Garrison left the Cabinet the
Administration has ceased to lead on any
of the questions coming within the purview
of the War Department. Mr.. Garrison
was a man with positive ideas and the
courage to fight for them. He was not
afraid to take issue with Democratic mud
ders at the Capitol, either on the prepared
ness question or on the question of scut-
Ting out of the Philippines. Mr.. Wilson,
however, wanted to run with the hare and
hunt with the hounds. He was willing TO
trail, not lead and Mr.. Garrison parted
company with him for that reason.
The Garrison correspondence exposed
the Presidents weakness to the world.
Congressman whom he had driven began
to see that they could drive him. The Ad-
ministration supported the Hitchcock
Philippines bill and opposed the Clarke
scuttling amendment. When the Clarke
amendment was adopted by the Senate
Mr.. Garrison wrote: IL consider the prin-
ciple embodied in the Clarke amendment an
abandonment of the duty Of this nation
and breach of trust with the Filipinos,
and, so believing, cannot accept it or
acquiesce in its acceptance"
Mr.. Wilson admitted that the Clarke
amendment was "unwise at this time"
But he not only failed to protest against
an acceptance by the House of the Clarke
amendment, but wrote letter to the Dem
ocratic House caucus urging acceptance.
When the scuttle policy was repudiated by
the House he changed front again and
counselled the Senate to go back to the
original Hitchcock bill.
This may be leadership, but it is not
the sort of leadership which impresses
men who are fighting for their own con-
victions or interests.
1t has been the same way with the army
reorganization bill. Secretary Garrison
saw from the first that Chairman Hay
was determined to choke off any legisla-
ton which aimed at real preparedness He
would not compromise with Mr.. Hay. But
President Wilson did compromise with
him. They stood together for the Hay
bill-for sham preparedness. Yet Mr..
Hays has always been the guiding mind,
the guiding hand, in the combination.
Now Mr.. Wilson remarks casually that
there is nothing unreasonable about main
tanning in peace time regular army of
100000 men. But will he demand that
Mr.. Hay accept the Senate's plan for a
peace establishment Of 100000 men? Will
be take the leadership out of Mr.. Hays
hands and smash the anti-preparedness
combination in control Of the House of
Representatives?
We fear that Mr.. Wilson will find it
more discreet to avoid making any de-
mands on Mr.. Hay. The latter knows
what he is about. He has built up a
pork barrel" organization, with allies on
the Republican side. These men are fight
ing for political spoils. They care nothing
about providing for an adequate first line
army so long as they can create state and
district patronage by charging the num-