Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-20

all opposition from the earth's face
and complete the whole Job in time to
be back home for an early supper.
Discoveries of German perfidy and
of plots which involved even the kais
er's ambassador were made by United
States officials; extensive secret serv
Ice operations were conducted through
out a period of many months; many
arrests and seizures were made; many
| intrigues against our government were
foiled. But only the barest hints OF q
few of these things were revealed; the
damning evidence which pointed un.
mistakably to the necessity for the
step which finally was taken by con-
gress last April lay hidden within the
vaults of the secretary Of states office
until recently when Mr.. Lansing saw
fit to divulge them piecemeal and
without comment.
A misfit cabinet, several of its mem
bers VIGOROUSLY weak even in peace
times and unable to attain harmony of
action between its own members be-
cause of jealousies and conflicting am
billions, has been continued in office
when the crisis demanded and does de-
mand today the strongest specialized
ability in every government post.
With one breath the dominant polit-
ical party has demanded blind acquies-
cence with its war program by the
minority party and with the next
breath has announced appointments
and other official actions which could
be explained only as payment OF
political debts or Strengthening OF
fences for future political operations.
In a laudable desire to be patriotic
practically everyone in the country
except the disloyal socialists, paci-
fists and proGermans-has thrust
aside personal opinions and political
considerations to unite in loyal support
of the administration. With a few
notable exceptions this loyalty has
been misconstrued by men high In the
councils of the government.
The over-subscription Of the two Lib
erty Loans is not an evidence of the
popularity of the cabinet officer who
had nominal charge of the campaigns.
Nor is it service of notice on the next
convention of his party that he must
have the refusal of the presidential
nomination. Other members of the
cabinet. having recovered from the
shock which followed sudden cessa-
ton of adverse criticism OF their vag-
aries in office, have interpreted the
phenomenon as tardy admission that
they are possessed of ability even they
had not imagined was theirs. They
follow indiscretion with mistake. and
distorted sense Of loyalty on the part
OF those who recognize their errors in
creases their groundless confidence in
their own infallibility.
Meanwhile President Wilson, who
announced at the outset that he would
welcome criticism of his actions, has
been denied the assistance which sym
pathetic, criticism would have given
because OF that selfsame distorted
sense Of loyalty and nationwide de.
sire that he be permitted to conduct
his war program unhampered.
But he is hampered, and hampered
srievously, by the very men on whom
he must rely for performance of the
millions of details which make up his
program. 1t is to- them and not to MIN
that our criticism is directed.
If his cabinet were composed OF men
big enough to render efficient service
to the country and big enough to put
aside considerations OF personal and
political ACKNOWLEDGMENT his task
would resolve itself into such an one
as the president of the United States
should expect to face in crisis like
the present. Under the conditions that
exist it is impossible for him or any
nv, cl1NrpSS-
fully.
Today the representatives of the
United States are in the first session
of the inter-allied war conference, al
which they should possess the deter
mining voice and vote. They are han
dicapped and embarrassed by the fact
that after seven months their govern
ment's ship-building plans are in
disgraceful muddle; they are unable to
roint to single American military
victory: they cannot say when ships
will be ready to make the war on the
submarine effective; they know. far
better than does the average citizen.
the extent to which political activity
and official ineffic' ency have delayed
Americas preparations; they realize
that millions of their countrymen are
wasting the energy which they should
be expanding feverishly in their ma
tons interest because they are not
awake to that nations peril.
Men here in Ottumwa and through
ont America read of Italy's terrible
plight and of Russja's disgrace, toss
their newspapers aside and say to each
other:
ooh, it will come out all right. Will
son is the greatest president the coun-
try ever, had. Wait till Pershing's
hoys get into action One American
can whip dozen Germans. I should
worry"
And that is what supporting the
president means to them. They are
not altogether to blame. either. for
they have bad little opportunity to
know the facts.
Just as the allies scattered armies
must have direction at the hands Of
general staff, so must Americas war
activities have intelligent and efficient
direction If the war is to be won. Mis-
management is defeating President