New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-12-28
ONE Of
WORLDS LEADERS
IN THOUGHT REALM
HOLDS MORAL LEADERSHIP
AND IS MASTER OF PHRAS-
ES, BUT IS UNABLE TO
CHOOSE sUBoRD1NATEs
OF ABILITY
New York Tribune)

There are two wholly different con-
ditions which have combined to pro-
duce the situation which now exists
in Washington. In the first place
confusion and chaos were bound to
attend transformation which might
be compared to suddenly changing
a corner peanut stand into a ter
minal station for trunk line rail-
way.
To transform a democracy of our
sort, not only unorganizcd, but in
its history and tradition shrinking
from organization and Capitalization,
into a war state was task which
could not have been accomplished in
any event in weeks or in months. In
a word. however great the genius
of those who had to perform the
tremendous work. there was bound
to be initial confusion and chaos,
and much of the situation in Wash
ington today is the result of inevi-
table difficulties. Napoleon himself
could not have organized America
for this war in the time that has
elapsed since we entered it, and Ger
man efficiency could hardly have pro-
duced great results since April last.
We shall do we'll to avoid too great
pessimism now when we face condi-
tions that are in themselves alarm
ing. but in certain respects were in
evitable and represent stage on
the road we have to go.
President's Question IL Bigger
But there remains the larger ques-
ton, which is the question of the
President. On the intellectual side
Mr.. Wilson has proved his right to
the world influence which he now
exercises. Right or wrong, he al
ways has possessed power of phrase
and method of thought which make
him a force in the world of ideas,
and no American can fail to feel
that in recent months Mr.. Wilson
has not only been right in his ideas,
but has contributed powerfully to
the victory of sound ideas and ideals
in the whole world.
Demanding Other Qualifications
Unfortunately. Mr.. Wilson's posi-
ton demands not only intellectual
and moral leadership. but also a
capacity for the direction of mate
rial and tangible things. for the sup
ervision and the control of industry,
transportation systems. machinery OF
every sort. at least to the extent
that it requires of him the ability
to choose the right men to whom to
delegate these gigantic tasks.
Trained Along o her Lines
For this task Mr.. Wilson's past
life and his whole habit of mind un-
fit him. His weakness in this res
pect is entirely analogous to that
of Mr.. Asquith. who remains in many
respects one of the most useful and
eloquent evpositors of Allied pur-
poses and ideals. as he was and would
be again one of the most hopeless
and dismal failures as an executive,
as a compeller of men and of things.
Moral Leader Of Allies
Mr.. Wilson has spoken nobly in
recent months. The moral leader
ship of the Allied world is as near
ly his as it is the possession of any
one man; but Mr.. Wilson has been
unable at any time to choose the
men or direct the machines by
which the moral ideas and principles
which he championed be made eff
cient. and here lies the real root Of
the difficulty in Washington, and
here is the one disturbing circum-
stances looking to the future.