Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-23
CRAFTSMANSHIP
OR GOOD LUCK?
Congressman Moore Speculates
About the Reason for Mr..
Wilson's Success in Over
coming Obstacles
Special Correspondence Epsning Ledger

WASHINGTON. May %,
| ILToODROw WILSON'S luck" Is pro-
w verbal. When everything seemed to go
wrong before tho war, politics or economics,
| It mattered not, the President generally
managed 20 pull through. No other man on
| earth, save Roosevelt could have looked In
dustrial conditions in the face as President
Wilson did prior to his Indianapolis speech
and then get away with IT, by calling
them psychological" And when tho time
came for his reelection, what other man. so
consistently opposed to protection as that
principle is understood by Republicans,
could have 20 completely neutralzed the
opposition Of tho big interests and the
manufacturing element as did he? or
stranger stlll, who would ever have dreamed
tho labor interests would be brought into
camp overnight, as It were, by the almost
providcntial incident Of the oight-hour law
on the very eve Of defeat? Folk talked Of
tho mobilization Of the troops on the Mex
lean border as n blundcr. They said It
was a useless, an almost almless, expedition.
But Wilson Tuck" or whatever It Is that
lands the President right side up in the
end, Is again in evidence, when the value
Of that seven months encampmcnt Of the
National Guard looms up in connection with
tho European war
II cost upward Of SlG5, 100000 to train
those men Of the National Guard in tho
seemingly forlorn effort to capture Villa
but 10 they now appear in the very van Of
N1a - L.
from the soft" and unframed men Of the
nation The National Guard that never
understood its status on the Mexican border
is now Johnny on the spot" for the fur
therance Of tho American war plans IN the
international crisis that impends
President Polite to Roosevelt
IT, in the course Of his administration Mr..
Wilson may have been lucky he is also en-
titled to some credit for seeing ahead. lie
spoke to Congress about our relations with
South American republics IN enc Of his
earlier war talks, and limited that we might
not fully grasp the Importance Of the Euro
pean situation unless VIC dealt generously
and considerably with them. Cuba and
Brazil, it will be recalled, have each since
expressed their sympathy with tho United
states in its attitude toward the Imperial
German Government, and other South
American republics arc expected to do so.
Mr., Wilson not only locks ahead in matters
International but since tho Roosevelt Incl
dent OF last week people I'm Washington are
inclined to cOnCcdc that no looks ahead in
other directions There are some even who
venture the belief that the President is as
clever as he is lucky. Witness the delicate
situation presented by tho act cf Congress
authorizing, not directing, mind you hut
authorizing" tho creation Of volunteer divi-
sions in addition to the draft. The Presl-
dent and the regular army staff were known
to be against this provision, yet Congress.
or nGjCrity Of Congress, clearly intended
that Colonel Roosevelt should be given n
command. How did the President size up
the situation? Did he wait until Roosevelt
volunteers had n chance to stir the country
and make trouble? No, before the ink was
fairly dry upon tho new act made law by
his signature he cut "the GCrdian knot"
II shall not avail myself" he said, Eat
any rate at tho present state of the war,
Of the authorization conferred by tho act 10
organize volunteer divisions" and then, with
flrmness tinged with u touch Of CASTOR
and Alphcnse polteness to an esteemed
presidential contemporary, at would be
very agreeable to me to pay Mr.. Roosevelt
this compliment. Politically too,
1t would no doubt have n very fine effect
and make a profound impression. But this
is not the time or tho occasion for compll-
ment or for any action not calculated to
contribute to the immediate success Of tho