New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
julius Rosenwald and Frank
Scott Also Likely To
Be Named
Will Act Under
Defence Council
Cabinet Members Prevail on
Wilson to Drop Inde-
pendent Body Plan
By &. w. GILBERT

Washington, July 21.-The appoint
ment of War Purchasing Board will
be announced in the course of the next
few days. A long contest as to whether
it should be. like the Shipping Board
and the Food Control Board, made In
dependent Of the Council Of National
Defence. reporting only to the Presi-
dent, or whether it should be subordi-
nate to that council, has been won by
the council. The Presidents adhesion
to this disposition is said TO have been
obtained by the members of his Cab.
met, who are also members Of The
council.
Bernard NJ. Baruch. who is now a
member of the advisory commission OF
the Council of National Defence, will
be head Of the new board. Among It:
members probably will be julius Ro.
senwald, also of the advisory commits.
sion, and Frank Scott, of the General
Munitions Boerd.
The placing of the new board has
been the subject Of good deal Of quiet
controversy. Strong pressure both fol
board independent of the Council Of
National Defence and for one subordi.
nate to the council has been exerted
upon the President. Many Of Mr.. Viii.
sons strongest advisers who are crit
ical Of the looseness Of the present or
ganization and its incapacity to get
things done quickly wanted to make q
fresh start and create an organization
with new vigor and greater indepcn-
dence of action than is possible for 8
body subordinate to the Council oi
National Defence.
Weakness Pointed Out
The weakness of the council as a.
present constituted is keenly felt BY
the critics. 1t is, they say, too mucl
of 9 debating society. The trouble
with it is that, whereas it ought to bt
! the most important body in Washing
ton, it really is only side line of &C.
tivity Of lot Of busy men.
In speaking of the council | use the
word strictly to mean the six Cabinet
mambers constituting it. These men
are SO rushed to death with their al.
ministrative functions that they can
give little thought to the problems of
the council; consequently, when they
meet they are unable to reach quick
decisions. Neither is the membership
of the highest possible quality.
One of Mr.. Wilson's most influential
advisers, Secretary McAdoo, who has q
business mans impatience with the
way some things are done down here, is
understood to have advised urgently
that the new board should be made in
dependent. The views OF the majority
Of the members of the Cabinet who
constitute the Council have, however,
prevailed. To this end the dissatisfac-
tion Of the Advisory Commission, with
the tendency TO denude them of func-
tions, probably contributed. If the
War Purchasing Board, together with
the most valuable committees of the
Council and its Advisory Commission,
were erected into an independent or
ganization, very little use would be
left, at least, for the Advisory Com
mission.
An Important Step
The appointment OF this War Pur-
chasing Board is the first step toward
the creation of a real war organization.
1t is easy TO exaggerate the Importance
of the step, for it remains 70 be seen
Just how much power and initiative the
new board will be able to develop, act
ing under the direction Of the Council
of National Defence, as the Council is
now constituted. But il Is a step in
the direction in which all future steps
must be taken as the pressure OF the
war operates 70 make necessary a more
efficient governmental machine.
In the first place, there is to be a
delegation. and concentration of au-
thority; how much authority at first
remains to be seen, but whatever it is,
!, will grow in the hands OF Mr.. Bar
uch, who is a man Of energy and deci-
sion, and who, moreover, enjoys the
confidence Of the President so much
that TO a large extent he will operate
in direct connection with Mr.. Wilson
and not merely through the Council.
Then, too, this will be the first bring
ing forward Of one OF the big men who
are advising the government into an
administrative position. And all sub
sequent development until the nation is
fully energized must be of that sort.
Mr.. Wilson needs bigger men about
him. AS it is he has to do too much
himself, and delay is inevitable when
the Executive is burdened with too
many details What we need here is Sir
Eric Geddeses in the Cabinet, provided
they would not load themselves with
too many details once they entered it,
as the present members do. The pro-
motion of Mr.. Baruch will be the first
step toward drafting these Sir Eric
Geddeses and using them in places big
enough for them to be Of genuine SER
vice to the country.