Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-10-19

!
the French. the Italians, the Rus
slams, and some others--not except
ing occasional glimmers from Ger
many--to say nothing of the acme
of their desir as, that, no matter who
began the war, the person who will
end it is Woodrow Wilson, president
of the United States; and this de-
spite ideas to the contrary that some
of Mr.. Wilson's countrymen seem to
hold. 1t is a fair assumption that
Mr.. Wilson thinks so too.
Great War Maker-Great Peace
Maker.
Everything focuses on Washing
ton, and the great. basic, outstand-
ing fact of the present situation is
that President Wilson is the most
important man in the world. Every
thing in the world is focused on
MISUNDERSTANDING! A battle
is battle. A revolution is a revo-
luton. A million men are a unit.
Ten thousand cannon make a hell.
A billion dollars-uncountab in
comprehensible-is an item. The
killed are hundreds of thousands,
and the MANNED are millions-here,
there and everywhere; but through
the weller of it all there is one man
in Washington who stands alone in
Importance and in potential power
the president-and, as l have said
for this reason: He will not only in
due time be the Great War Maker
but he will also in due time be the
Great Peace Maker. He represents
the United States. Conversely, be.
cause he is president and executive
representative, the United States wiil
in large measure, represent him.
History presents no greater ex
ample of the miracle of democratic
opportunity. Less than ten years
ago Woodrow Wilson was president
of a university, the author of a few
books. speaker of repute, an execu'
tive Of ability in his university
sphere, whose greatest combat had
been over a question Of university in
ternal policy. Today, by the muta'
lions of politics in this democracy, he
is the most important man in the
world; the leader of this vast coun.
try in an epochal enterprise OF wal
that, on our part as we'll as on the
part Of others, transcends anything
the world has known; an enterprise
requiring the services Of millions OF
men, and their deaths. 1t may be, and
the expenditure of billions of money;
an enterprise so vast as to be incom.
prehensible in any but its shadowy
details; an enterprise that involves
the globe.
He is more important than any
kaiser, king, premier, pontiff. dicta-
tor, general or admiral. He is the
most important man in the world.
Some World Facts.
There are a few fixed and proved
underlying principles or postulates
that survive the day-to-day shifts and
changes. They may be summarized
thus: Peace is the uppermost
thought in every mind. Ships-and
not food, fuel, iron, money or soldiers
are the most important war fac
tors in the world. Submarines-and
not guns, bombs. gas, aeroplanes,
tanks, trenches, or battles where
great masses Of men STAY one another
ARE the most formidable Of the op-
posing forces. These are world facts,
as we'll as American facts. Peace is
wanted. Ships will get peace. Sub
marines may prevent peace-or,
worse, bring defeat.
Let me set down here. in exact
terms, that from every place which
has to do with the making Of war. in
Washington and elsewhere, where
there Is first-hand or communicated
contact with the president. comes the
word that he is sternly and implac-
ably intent upon the task that con-
fronts him. 1t is beside the mark to
conjecture as to whether his attitude
is founded on the knowledge that the
more vigorous the war, the brighter
the prospects for peace. That is true
enough; but when the thoughts in
the presidents mind are bowling in
the war channel they are all wal
thoughts, and the war urge is strong
in him, as many of his lieutenants
and executives will testify. There i:
no paltering about il. He is sane
He would welcome peace; but he
isn't trying to get peace under the