Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-13
Bic Men For Big Work

The call for big men is ringing out with increas
ing force every day of the war.
Everyone now knows that although the man
Who told of the million men who would spring up
over night, may be neither fool nor knave, he did
not at any stage Of the proceedings know what he
Vas talking about
Mention Of this need for big men has been made
in these columns before Mention will be MADE
again, and for the particular reason that big men
are needed in this section of the country as we'll in
that portion Immediately bordering on Pennsyi
yania avenue.
At every place, and in every Official position
where petty, peevish partisan politics enter in to
impede the nations business or public business OF
any character the man and the mel responsible
for ii @rnust 60" The departure may be delayed in
some instances more than others, but in the final
soIution the little men and the incompetent men
have got to 60.
This is a terrific task which the nation has under
taken. And this is a terrifcally big nation. TO
bring all the forces to bear 30 that the task shall
is properly done demands the best that big men
can give. and when these men are giving of their
hest the impedimenta of small minds must stand
aside.
Sam Blythe has put IT in paragraph written
Tor 4 recent issue of the Saturday Evening Post:
fry,s war. There must be neither penuriousness
nor poitics in it, This is not party war or par
fisan war. There must be realization that the
ambitions of no manor any set of men-are supe'
fior or to be considered against the need OF the
country. There must be hard, cold-blooded, bush.
ness policy-the policy of winning, at whatever
cost and regardless of the needs, desires, feelings
81 aspirations of any individual or any set OF In
iiyiduals Whatsoever. When the people fnd ont
about it, when they get realization Of what it all
means there will be no holding back by the people;
hut the people deserve and must have, in the con-
duct Of this war; the best brains and the best eci.
tncy we have, regardless of party Of Affiliations,
d favoritism or prejudice; or the people will ask,
md know, why.
1T is question of utilizing our big men, or try
Inc them out in the process of utilization until the
,ieht man is founder the right men. The process
must be one Of trial and elimination. .r.. :
There is no present disposition to hurry matters,
but there will be that disposition soon, for though
Il nav be true that the people in general have not
an acute or concrete realization of all the problems
and difficulties presented to this country by this
war it is also true that there is certain lack OF
understanding, complicated with personal ambi-
ton, egotism and political aspiration among some
Of the men who are trying officially, to run it; and
q total lack Of understanding of new conditions
among most of the others. 1t is the business OF
these men to know. If they persist in not knowing
here will still exist methods by which they will
be accurately and pointedly informed"
All that Blythe says of the national management
Is equally true of local management. This great
nation Is made up Of units. II the men managing
the units are not up the mark the work of the big
men who may be handling the national program
must be seriously hampered if not brought to
naught.
The test of ability is found in results. Excuses
and complaint Of not having fair show
viii pass for time, but eventually the course Of
events calls for results and IL they are not forth
coming. the little men, the partisan, pettfogging
factional cute politician will have to 60.