The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-11-16
OUR WAR CONFEREES"


-. There appears TO be some confusion
about the objects OF the conference Of
ssthe Allies, which was scheduled TO
meet in Paris yesterday. II has
reached point in England which has
endangered Premier Lloyd Georges
tenure That, however. We take it.
1 cannot affect The clear understanding
OF our repraseD :ativeS, who are under
definite instructions from the Presi-
dent. With the resignation Of the
French Cabinet on the eve OF the
coavening of the conference. followed
by the uproar in England. the pros
poets Of actual results do not appear
70 be very encouraging.
And this draws attention to the
personnel of the. American representa-
ton at the Paris coun"il table. and it
must be confessed that it is nothing
to point to with pride" or special
confidence. is composition goes
more to show thr Presidents hide
bound partiSarsh;2 than any display
Of intelligent. impartial selection. II
it were not they were mere ule$Sen-
ger boys we might fear the outcome.
According TO Secretary Lansing. the
conference is essentially = war con.
ference" 50 that makes the roll call
;aof our representatives. chosen by the
president, somewhat ridiculous. Let
Us glance IL this incoCsruoIS roster
. Of craftsmanship. native ability :Sll
fitness. At the head stands the cham
pion American clam. Edward ",
l House. a colonel from Texas. whose
military title is derived through pu-
Sal service. At the tail OF tho
ption stand, Gordon AuchincloSS.
D Col. Houses son-;n.iaw. tnus
maintaining the traditional admins
tration idea that everything pertaining
ito the government in peace or war
is primarily a family affair. Sand
wiched in between these TWO d!Stin-
= guished representatives OF united
nation and IN equally undivided fam
lily come others OF marked ability III
their lines.
: First is Admiral w. s. Benson, chief
Sof operations OF the navy. who. being
rmore amenable to the pacifst notions
Of Josephus Daniels than Admiral
Bradley Fiske replaced the latter
soon after he had been so imprudeut
as to voice and active and vigorous
opinion in favor OF preparedness. Gen.
Tasker H. Bliss, az present chief Of
the general staff OF the army. will be
compelled TO Quit that post neW
y month by reason Of age. Then comes
Oscar T. Crosby, Assistant Secretary
,.of the Treasury. traveller. writer
;, and agreeable gentleman. Vance Nc
Ccrmick. whose knowledge OF warfare
was gained on the football field and
by conducting the campaign for Viii
sons reelection on a. j.eacc basis. will
be an Agreeable bcdfell0w for Balm
bridge Colby. New York lawyer who
s:supported Wilson in 1916. and who. in
ssTirtue Of that fact. now holds a place
ssspn the Federal Shipping Board which
.ts.by right belongs 20 4 regular Repub-
slican. Prof Monzo E, Taylor. IF the
YUniyersity OF Pennsylvania. has writ
;sten books on dietctic subjects, meta
bolism and the like. which if read by
9tthe men in the trenches will teach
Them how many times they should
tehew each mou;hfi;i of food when
under fire by the enemy. and other
like valuable things. We have one
expert, Thomas Nelson Perkins. 4
Boston lawyer and director in some
4smining companies.
s, Can you beat it?