New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-19
For a War Cabinet
1t Is the Only Way to Bring Order
Out of Chaos
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

apparent each day. inc Rreat ''"u''' w"
our war preparations at the present time
| is that there are too many committees ana
boards, without authority or responsibility
and too many men TO make suggestions, but
no executive head to see that good, practical
suggestions are carried out.
The organization known as the Council OF
National Defence is tophcavy and lacks the
power or ability to accomplish Things our
country is at war with powerful hatloh,
and it must face the fact that 1T has under
taken n tremendous task, and that the ncces-
sites of the war are not only serious pu'
extremely urgent, and that to carry 1t on
successfully, we must utilize the best taieh'
the country can produce. If we are to derive
bAnefit from the mistakes OF the Allies, as
, has been suggested, we must realize the
importance Of securing the services OF the
most practical men in the country and give
these men the power to execute ana carry
out a systematic and definite policy. Inc
President cannot be expected, and should not
attempt TO personally look after the count
less details that have been imposed upon
the country by the exgencies OF state
of war. However, the impression one gain
org in Washington is that the President is
not only the head of the nation, but also
the head of all advisory boards and commis-
sions. II this is true, it should be remedled
at once. The physical and mental STRAIN
under which our President is living must be
enormous, and every patriotic citizen should
be readv and willing to uphold and assist
him in every possible way in carrying on the
tremendous work of preparation required LOT
The prosecution of a successful war. There
fore. we believe it is absolutely necessary
that the government should call in from the
business world not only men Of the highest
executive ability, but men Of practical ex-
perience in the branch of work assigned TO
them. and make each one personally respon-
sible for the efficiency of the work done IN
the department over which he has control.
Charming Mr.. Daniels
Mr. Daniels may be good newspaper man
and a charming gentleman, but he Is not
fitted by education, experience or otherwise
to control and dictate the policy Of large
navy in war times
Neither is Mr.. Baker fitted by experience,
education or temperament to place our army
on a war basis or direct its policy during
war times. Our army and navy should both
be under the control of practical army and
navy men who have had practical training
along these lines through years of education
and experience.
The conditions existing at the present time
in the departments and numerous boards
recently created in Washington are one Of
the strongest arguments against that feature
of the espionage bill which was intended to
so effectually muzzle the press of the coun-
; try
! 1t is ar unfortunate and deplorable fact
that all the Investigations and all the pro-
posed legislation regarding the high cost of
living have up to the present time, been Oh
absolutely no benefit to the consumer. In
fact, prices have been going up steadily and
without reason. For examples To-day we
may hear that a commission has been ap-
pointed for the purpose of investigating the
high cost of coal. Within a few days or
weeks we hear that coal has advanced from
10 per cent to 20 per cent in price.
The serious question confronting us now
is: How long will these conditions continue
before the people arise in their might and
power and demand the overthrow and sum-
mary punishment Of the politicians who
make these deplorable conditions possible?
! | am glad we have at least few such
! Democrats in Congress as Galivan, of Mas
sachusetts-m who are big enough to for
get politics at time when our country
needs self-sacrifcing patriots instead Of
small politicians whose jealousy for their
party and the fear Of losing their jobs are
greater than their patriotism, and who cry:
Don't send Roosevelt abroad at the head Of
division of our proposed volunteer army
for immediate service in France. He wants
to go for selfish political purposes" At the
same time others say: HE lacks experience
and is too impetuous, and is so ambitious
/ that he would like to run our whole army"
New Warfare Must Be Learned by All
As to the question of experience, the Off
GERS as we'll as the soldiers whom the gov
eminent may send abroad will be obliged to
acquire a new experience in the science of
warfare as practsed in Europe at the pres
ent time.
As TO his ambition to run our whole army,
God knows we need some one TO run it,
some one who has courage and executive
ability, for it is we'll known fact, which is
becoming more indisputable every day, that
at the pace our war preparations are now
|
will be able to place an army on the battle
field of Europe, and by that time the great
necessity may have passed. 1t may then be
| too late.
have never been a political supporter of
Mr.. Roosevelt, but, in all fairness, ask,
! Who can do what he offers to do? Who, in
all this broad land, possesses the magnetism,
personal following and ability to enable him
to raise at once 100000 vounteers-men who
are eager and ready to sacrifice their lives
to defeat the common enemy of humanity?
Who can lead an army to Europe and stimu-
late the courage and create the same degree
of enthusiasm among the brave soldiers of
France as Theodore Roosevelt, former Presi-
dent of the United States? And what better
tribute could we pay our allies than to send
our first soldiers to them under the leader
ship of one of our most illustrious citizens?
New York, May II, 1917 W H. LYNN.
eft the Omniscients RuleI