The Washington herald., 1917-04-19
The President Leads.
tcAieago Tribunal

Nn1cAko lnuunel
IT appears that President Wilson Is
about to assume the energetic and intelli-
gent leadership the nation needs. His
appeal for the cooperation of various
elements in the country took considera-
uon OF the practical questions without
timidity. II he is brave enough to lead.
tne people must not be reluctant to fol-
low.
MI. Wilson asks for universal service
That Is the foundation and the protecting
wall OF republic. 1t Is not In its major
aspect military service. When a nation
such as the United States goes to war,
W per cent or more Of the service its citi-
Sens can give 1t Is civilian in character
raiher than military.
There are ten men behind the man with
the Dayonet. The man with the bayonet
is selected for his exceptional and parti-
cular fitness to be with II. He has the
post Of honor and the large conscious
ness OF obligation assumed and service
rendered. But in a properly organized
nation there is a serious consciousness of
service given with self-sacrtfice and with
out any sustaining exaltation or emo
tional decoration. The men who do the
chores are taking over responsibility for
the success Of the men who do the fight
ing.
-N-ANNHN " AiSpl a VIII 10
organize this nation properly. II Con-
gress were wise enough 70 be guided by
ms recommendations We believe that the
tonic OF great enterprise wisely and
couraseously undertaken would be felt by
lhe nation and that It would be safe in
morale and mechanics for many years.
The President Is leading, but Congress
may block the road. II Congress will
tolow instead Of obstructing. the waste
and ineniciency Of permitting the volun-
teer system to dlsorganize the nation in
food production, transportation, manufac-
ture. and fighting will be eliminated.
The President wants to use the draft
de Is wise and courageous. Congress may
prove itself stupid and cowardly.
A Democratic Army.
tChristian Science MonitOrI
Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart, OF Har-
ward University, is doing a great service
by making clear the difference between
such an army as the United States Is
now forming and an army organized
under the German militaristic system. In
doing this he gives emphasis to the un-
Outstanding, no doubt, of the vast ma
jority OF his fellow countrymen. The
great army OF the republic, he says, will
be a democratic force, raised without the
distinction OF officer class, which is 50
ASpuiSiNe part OF the German military
machine" 1t is. OF course, the duty Of
every young man entering this army to
put himself in line for promotion, and
to reach the point where he may direct
and command, but officers are not to be
selected because OF family, or wealth, or
station Or influence, but wholly on per-
sonal merit
The United States has been accounted a
BACKWARD nation by sope OF its critics
at home and abroad. not so much be-
cause OF any lack OF military resources
or military capacity, as because it has
failed to set UP militarism as an idol The
nauon from Its very beginning has, on
every possible occasion. discountenanced
the mihtaristic idea, voting down, as
regularly as they have come up. all pro-
posals for the establishment OF a regular
army beyond such as might be necessary
to the performance of police duties
There is no little perturbation among
the public lest the patriotic fervor that
Is sweeping over the country may be used