New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-25
Mr.. Drilling of America
Bv lanes N. Rosenberg

., cIo,bod with no official authority can
drive it's way through such a wilderness OF
unrelated movements
Rut il is only because we nave looheo III
vain for effective governmental direction tna'
we now turn in an emergency 70 private CIV,
zcns for temporary and partial results "hien
can be adequately accomplished only oy tne
sovereign. -.
and when we turn TO the government. this
farm labor problem raises interesting queS
zion. Who shall have charge? Municipal,
state or Federal authorities! The interstate
Commerce Commission. since interstate trans
narration of food and labor is involved; De-
nartments Of Labor, or Of Agriculture? Or
sirco how laborers are to be Soldiers Of the
soiIv shall Departments Of Education take
hold? Or because food supply is military
necessity. shall the War Department assume
charge7 Or is il for the various Councils OF
Defence? Or, is it all to be in Mr. Hoover
sole domain? Or shall they all do IT, hand IN
hand: or will it be a case rather OF nand
against hand? And, chief OF all. who is TO
decide whose business it is all to be?
Anticipated Bureaucrats
In France. when the war began, there was
a reorganization of all the army heads. Inc
generals who were put in charge were nine or
ten years younger, on the average, than those
who had been in command before the war
began. OF Great Britain's slow labor pains
in giving birth to efficient organization we are
we'll aware What of our own General Stan
Are they a group OF antiquated bureaucra's
who should be laid on the shelf? why not
vest the National Council of Defence with
some real power? Can q pacihst Mayor make
War Secretary? When are the powers OF
Mr. Hoover to be defined? Are the ooun-
daries and functions Of our various federai
bureaus being defined? Are we to repeat the
mistakes and tragedies of the Civil and the
Spanish wars! These, and thousand otner
dark questions cause us deep Anxiety we
are not crticising; we are only inquiring' lot
We are embarked on the business OF war,
which, looked on as mere business enter,
prise. reduces the management Of the United
States Steel Corporation, by contrast 70 the
simplicity of the running of a corner
grocery shop.
Mr.. Wilson has carried united country
with him through the thrilling drama of the
past months Most Of US who voted against
him apologize to ourselves. He has hitched
the national wagon to star. Ii remains Tor
him to install in that wagon a mighty motor
which shall not miss explosions, run out OF
easolene. or be driven by crpples with ban
dages around their eyes.
1t is staggering burden which ne has to
carry for the little story of farm labor IN
New York is, many of US fear, straw that
shows which way the wind blows throughout
our land And this is but natural, since we
have system of democracy which is an easy
going, hit or miss, laissez-faire sort OF thing.
Put the time has come when it must be
lacked up. And while it is for US little Brit
lings. ready critics, quick faultfinders, TO be
patient remembering how difficult il is for
us to manage even our own personal simple
and petty affairs, yet We permit ourselves to
utter fervent prayer that it will not be for
gotten that hands will do for the farm, but
that it needs heads to accomplish the great
task of coordination of the vast governmental
business of war; that it will be remembered
that no one man can be captain, the crew and
the boatswain, too; and we voice the hope
that the men in charge of the great depart
ments of government are, despite the news
that filters to US from Washington, efficiently
ordering their branches of power, so that our
country may function properly, that those
men are being given a degree Of authority
commensurate with their heavy Responsible
ties and that the square pegs will be taken
out of the round holes.