The Washington times., 1916-06-01

by commanding chief in such fash
lon as to prevent social ambition and
and the failure TO demand and apply
proper standards inevitably bring dry
rot. II Is not a mater of money alone.
military organization requires hard.
Intelligent. unremitting work, and also
requires an energetic. forcefui man who
can supply the driving will. Only by
intelligent supervision that understands
the problems OF the army and navy.
coupled with sympathy and strenuous
insistence upon duty. car the spirit
will give us efficient forces.
once our army and navy program Is
decided upon 1t must be quickly and
resolutely, carriel through. We must
make ma s,n II clear that that we mean to build up
defending our legitimate interests.
There must be no bravado and no
threats to any nation. but genuine ef-
fort to face squarely the few. conflicts
OF interest to which our foreien relations
are open. and to arriveyby' discussion
at suitable solution. ~, y.
Mexico a Problem.
Mexico is an immediate problem and
as long as conditions in Mexico re-
main chaos of murder and misrule
II will be as DANGEROUS to our peace as
the Balkan peninsular has proved to
the peace of Europe. Let It be remem-
bered that all we ask Is that Mexico
snail be PROSPEROUS and we'll behaved.
Any neighbor Of ours that is doing we'll
for itself has nothing to fear from us.
AS soon as Cuba became orderly and
prosperous our relations with Cuba
In turn became those of mutual re-
spect and good will as between equals.
III Mexico would become as orderly and
as prosperous as Canada there would
be no more thought Of hostility between
her and us than there Is hostility be-
tween us and Canada, II Is we'll to re-
member that In Mexico no small part OF
the trouble has come because Of our
own criminal misconduct in permitting,
and often encouraging. the shipment OF
arms into the land. Five years ago we
had no law which permitted the Presi-
cent TO lay an embargo on arms. Then,
under the Administration of Mr.. Taft,
ON the initiative Of the then Secretary
OF War. Mr.. Stimson. Senator Root.
with the aid of the Texas Senators,
drafted Joint resolution giving the
President power to put an embargo on
the export OF arms to revolutionists
against a friendly nation. President
at once. on the recommendation OF Mr..
Stimson. put an embargo, and 1t was
not Hft0d until President Wilson came
into office. Since then II has been
applied and lifted. applied and lifted.
not with any reference to our needs or
the needs of Mexico. but with reference
to which particular bandit chief was
at the moment favorable to Washington
During the last three years the Wash
ington Government has apparently been
influenced merely by personal whims or
dislikes In It's choice OF which chief to
favor. and has never paid the slightest
attention TO the real needs OF Mexico
nor made proper effort to find out
whether any particular chief, which
thev at the moment supported. had be-
hind him the forces telling for stable
and orderly government. which would
enable him to bring peace out OF the
bloody chaos.
"Ostrich Method" Sad.
International problems cannot be solv-
ed by the ostrich method of ignoring
them. nor by covering them in vague
phrases and generalities. An army and
navy adequate for the needs of our
own defense will OF themselves dissi-