New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-19
WHEN WATCHFUL WAITING ENDED
Ceased To Be Popular When Mr.. Wilson's
Fortunes Were Involved.
To the Editor of The Tribune.


Sir: How does Mr.. Wilson reconcile his
headlong uniformed action in the railroad
strike crisis, just deferred, with his more
than inactive "watchful waiting" in Mexican
affairs and as regards exactng satisfaction
and amends for the Lusitania and for other
losses of American lives and destruction OF
American property at the hands Of foreign
powers? How does he reconcile his whirl.
wind movement in that railroad crisis with
his deliberate crawling on his knees over the
persistent violations of all American rights,
the damage of American interests by illegal
acts of belligerent nations occurring every
day?
In theory, at least, American lives and
property beyond our frontiers are just as
much American as they are in New York or
California. If precipitate action is, in Mr.
Wilson's opinion, the only honorable and
safe way 10 prevent injury 70 American life
and property at home against attacks by
other Americans, why is not prompt action
of as decisive a sort the proper way TO deal
with actual killing Of Americans, actual de-
struction Of American property by foreigners
on the high seas and in foreign lands?
OF course as a Republican, with more than
disgust for Mr.. Wilson and his words, with
distrust Of all his motives, with conviction
that his mental processes are merely STUB
born folly raised to the nth power, the con
viction that his action in the railroad STRIKE
crisis was an act of personal avarice, nssV
attempt TO buy votes wholesale for me NO
vember elections. IS no more than natural
Were Mr.. Wilson's record Of "wstchtol
waiting not there TO be compared with MS
single whirwnd action these bitter Thoughts
would not readily pour into ones mind. bu'
think over his stand when the Lusitanis vas
sunk and Americans killed by the scorel lou
remember there were American children, TOO
don't you? or course, that was long tin'
before election. and they didn't belong
any union, and their families didn't make UP
a very big voting group, either. linen tnei,
were the other lesser murders that foIo"eu
and "watchful waiting"
And the Mexican atrocities Though some.
how they have never been called by 'n.'
name) came along TO be "watchfully WSiV
ed" over, too. There and at Columbus sn'
other American towns on our side the O0'
der were actual killings, actual losses o.
property, instead of deaths and losses AZ
ticipated. When our troops were oush'
whacked in their pursuit OF the Mexican ou'
laws there were more real killings, too
haven't mentioned Vera Cruz because tnat nS'
been long forgotten in our Joy at having pee
kept out of war; But there were real oeA,
men there too-Amercan dead Na1ehio'
waiting" met these unfortunate incioen's'
and the families Of the dead were told 'n''
they should be glad their men died for
great principle" 49,,
Now comes the threat Of strike '"o'
might tie up the nations means OF trSnsPV
tation-n nothing but threats that many
men believed were nine-tenths blum
this crisis also met with "watchful wsltne'
that policy good enough for the Lusi's"'
and the Mexican dead? You forget, irienS,'
that now we are within few weeks o. ,sJ
Presidential election, when the
waiter" comes up for that second term "n,N-
his party once pledged itself against
forget that il is four hundred thousanu
crs who are threatening the nation -.
full waiting" was good enough TO mee' -,
deaths and losses of others, but -,
mad for more power is near cousin 10
rights w.rs
Remember. real dead men. real rum "
met with that great calm OF "wstehio' 80.
ing" with which philosophers nave nu.
been able to meet the troubles OF other'.
this present situation is one OF the p aS;vi,.
piers own crises. BY that knship 70 "a
right" which made of party promise wil.
second term mere scrap OF paper n.' ss,.
son was able to see that he must or
"Watchful waiting" and kind woras s....i,
American dead of the old Head OF h' "a,
and at Columbus and elsewhere! Ae'Io" tho
he man who runs for his second 'el"' nat
needs four hundred thousand votes
headlong action might buy. nr m
Greenwich. Conn, Sept 10, 1910