American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-12
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT
WILSON.

Dear Mr.. President: This letter
contains a digest OF opinion OF a great
number OF men who have had an OPP
portunity both from near 70 and from
a distance TO study the workings OF our
war machine. The line of thought
which II follows Is very general among
those who are close enough to our
war activities 20 be we'll informed. and
A. 10 hold by 30 many people OF such
different political and material atti-
tudes and OF such varying pasts that
~ seems worthy OF attention.
fu the first place. n you had oppor-
tunity TO listen 20 the u~nguarded con
v%ersatiOn OF your fellOw-countrymen
you could hardly help feeling the
%quickening pulse OF a justihable pride
IN the extent 20 which you have lifted
their ambitions for a just and a demo
cratic world. Very many who have
been by long habit somewhat cynical
~ improving standards OF information
al morality have been caught and in
vigorated by your enthusiasm for hui
ma freedom and the possibilities OF
improving civilization. And. as a ma
tion. having subscribed 10 the high
nv NNM MAfN AlilAAlNNs
our endeavor 20 attain them will bring
az TO a higher level than We should
otherwise even have striven for. The
standards you have set are held very
previously by the American public.
Along with this feeling. and as uni
Fersal among those who are where
they can see the war machine. is the
Feeling that the vision which YOU have
put into our var aims Is lacking IN our
war conduct. Some blame you for
this. Many others blame Mr.. Baker.
bur those who have analysed the sit
uation most carefully blame the COun-
Gil ~ National Defense That body
vas created 10 make the comprehon-
aiNe plan hy which the whole strength
81 the nation could be turned toward
the conduct OF war. Its function was
60 start all necessary war activities.
foresee their possible conflicts with
each other. and prevent friction. II
was TO look on our nation as one huge
machine tor waging war and see that
the various parts Of this great machine
turned rapidly and in unison. Once
sifen It's policy by you Il was to have
the foresight and vision TO direct the
nations activity so that men. clothes.
arms. food. ships. and countless other
things would flow from the different
departments OF the nation in lis ca
paeiiy as a wa factory until an army
81 the proper size arrived on the
battlefield az the proper time 20 win
his war.
Mr.. President, almost no one be-
llefts that the Council OF National De-
Tense has had this vision or has Il now.
or that Sc has a sufficiently compre-
hensive grasp OF the raw material Ia
nor industry. and transportation pos
slnihiies or this country 20 create and
guide a plan 20 make use OF them to
their utmost The congestion on our
railroads, the lack OF bunker coal. the
necessity for DR.. Garheld's sudden or
der suspending industry for specified
days-these things as we'll as the
shortage OF clothing. rifles and ma
chine guns for the army and he de-
lays In our shipbuilding programme
show that the Council OF National De-
Tense has failed in foresight and d.
rection.
When the breakdowns in our war
machinery came. you summoned new
men 10 repair the damage and get the
machine under way again, but In prac-
tically every case. Mr.. President, the
difficulty has been given TO you TO
solve after il was In a serious condi-
ton. and not in time to prevent serious
delay from arising. The Council OF
National Defense did not urge upon