The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-19

otners, OF the righteousness OF our
cause by q uniform course of fair
ness and courtesy toward all ma
lions, including Japan.
HYACINTHE RINGROSE.
Believes Mrs. Hale Misjudged Reese
welt.
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
You published in your paper Of
Thursday q letter from Annie Riley
Hale, which, to the writer of thii
letter, seems an ill-timed, vindictive
and unpstriotic Indictment Of ex-
President Roosevelt as q military
charlatan and q political clansman
seeking only cheap notoristy for him
self and those who ask to go at once
to France-Americans who seek the
firing line by the shortest available
route in the quickest possible time.
Perhaps Mrs. Hale may understand
the heart of the Roosevelt movement
better, may understand some of the
impulse and the sentiment back Of II
by reading the subJoIned letter writ
ten back in April, when few believed
that an American soldier would ever
put his foot outside the United States.
what fortune teller put Colonel
Roosevelt next to what the allies
wanted know notl
Not written for publication, 1t is
only given now in Justification OF and
as q type of thousands OF others who
have signed up with Roosevelt, who,
beyond the selective draft age, seek
to do their part for their country as
they see Il in the most effective way.
This is not a popular war in the
sense that other wars OF the United
States have been popular, and no
amount Of Congressional enactment
can legislate popularity into It, and
the more sentiment and the less poll
ties you put In It, the quicker the
wheels will turn. Roosevelt may be,
as Mrs. Hale says, q political scoun-
drel, but just let's forget Il until this
war is over: but, be he patriot or pol
troon. the opinion runs that had we
a Roosevelt now at every crossroads
postoffice in the United States, any
army needed could be raised by VOL
untary enlistment. While the publ
cation of this letter may do but little
good, that OF Mrs. Hale was meant to
do harm. No patriotic purpose was
served by its publication Please
watch your step. Mr.. Editor.
WILLIAM Mex. CLAYTON.
April Is. 1911.
Col Theodore Roosevelt,
Dear Col. overwhelmingly ! have
fought you all the days Of my life. Patriot
ically am now with you from the crown Of
my head 70 the soles Of my feet. Your idea
Of leadlnH a volunteer Of Americana
TO night In France beside Frenchmen Il the
only thing yet worth while in this war.
Take me with you, in any place. in any
eapaclty.
Ny Ereat-Erandfather. Capt Henry Clay
ton after six years OF bun and blue, stood at
last with the soldiers Of France at victorious
Yorktown, and after the surrender took TO
his Virginia home TO be hurried back to health
a wounded French eompatriot, Major Du VII
lers.
/ have had a stake IN this loved country
Of ours-this Western experiment IN democ-
racy-Ftnce the hrst OF our name. Sir Richard
Clayton. came over in 1915. as the FIRST crown
attorney general for the colony Of Virginia.
Could oEer less than TO offer all.
Take me with you.
God help us all Americans TO do our
part now, in some small measure. to repay
the 6ebt owed France since f77s.
The swords OF Washington and LaFAyette
again unscabbered. let q President Of the
United States lead forward the Americans
Of 1911 against those battling to blast re-
publican France from the earth with the
he'll IRE of absolutism.
Take me with you.
Cordially and sincerely.
(siEned) WILLIAM Mex. CLAYTON.
An AdmIreF of Roosevelt StIH Hopes
He Won't BE Allowed to Take Army
to France.
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
Here Is one friend and admirer Of
Terrible Teddy who sincerely hopes
that the President will have back bone
enough to ignore the provision Of the
army bill which would permit the
Roosevelt expedition to France
The volunteer system was rejected
in order that we might adopt a sys-
TEN which would afford a continuous
now OF power, adjust every man to
his place Of usefulness and place the
Of the war in the hands
Of those who know how to manage Il.
Now Roosevelt proposes to remove
Sc, 900 adventurous men from the
operation of the plan. These men are
OF proper age for officers: they are,
we are Informed, OF independent in
come, which implies that they are
men with talents for organization
and leadership; they are, perhaps,
men needed in the industries Of their
While those who do not win the
favor are debarred from
Joining this corps d'elite, the accepted
few are to constitute a privileged |
class, lit by a halo which will not |
hover over the lowly conscript. even
though he be no more lacking in
spirit.
Every argument against the volun-
teer system applies to the unfair ex-
,eptIon in Mr.. ROosevelt's behalf. Its |
will be unscientific, its |
ewes iIltrained, its command I'M
equal TO the task. 1t is undemocratic,
lnfair-a rank special privilege |
Teddy has no more |
light 10 raise a personal following |
han any other ambitious politician |
M the country. What wonder that
ne army man who has rendered /
faithful service in time OF peace, |
,quipped himself for leadership. and |
Ienied himself the chance OF business |
,uccess. now wonders II he would |
lot have greater opportunities today |
{ ne had prepared for war by close |
attention to politics?
MINGLEDoRFF.