New-York tribune., 1918-04-26
Sherman Assails
Wilson Officials
AS Mis6t "Pegs"
Senator Says President
Now Wants to Scrap Out
fit and Start Afresh
TStuf Correspondence

Staff Correspondence
WASHINGTON, April 25.-A review
of what he called President Wilson's
wonderful ability to find square pegs
for round holes was made IN the Sen
ate to-day by Senator Lawrence y
Sherman, of Illinois.
"As nearly as the uncultured popu-
lace can understand, being witnout
university degrees or capital le'.eIs
after their signatures. when they un,
dertake to grasp this departhen:.:.' :..
chaos by any visible 'hand-hol' ,lI1s ~ )
this" said Senator Sherman. he re
now wants power to scrap the ou'i'
and let him start in fresh.
Zone that can't make a better Dau-
ting average pegging holes on 1ive-
wear circuit had better let Congress
help him while until he learns more
about human pegs. Otherwise II ne
knocks down all the material IN the
departments he might never be able
TO set il up again during war times.
lie might get nervous and excited IKE
some of us were two or three years
ago when he was too proud to hight,
told Foreigners there must be peace
without victory advised 'watchtul
waiting and later reminded us all
that around in our respective homes
that he mad kept US out of war
He'd had chance to practice on
the Shipping Board ever since Sep
tember, 1916. There was a brand new
lot of holes The pegs were human
shipbulders. They were plentiful IT
the American supply house.
Filling the Holes
"He promptly filled the holes with
two lawyers under suspicion Of polltl-
cal activity, lumberman well along
in years who knew about as much Of
shipbuldlng as ! do of theology. The
fourth man had operated steamships
and the fifth had lifetime experience
both in building and operating ships
"The last named and only competent
man sized up the pegs thrust into the
boards organization holes and unanl-
mously retired while it was still reas-
onably quiet. 1t wasn't lack of power
or lack of an assortment of pegs and
holes that was the matter. 1t was
color blindness that made a politician
look like shpbuilder.
ing with his peculiar ideas about pegs
and holes a delegation of steel manu-
facturers came to Washington. They
wanted to see him about shipbuilding
In the absorbing pursuit of pcgging
holes he couldn't possibly see them
He found only time to say that he was
thinking about communicating theil
plants and turning their plants over
to some great captains OF human lam
guagc like Vic Murdock
"Then he went on with his peg game
After three misfts lie found Hurley
and Piez, who pegged into the right
boIoc orCr,Dtl Thoca man 4hourhA
somebody like Schwab, who had beer
run out of town with the rest of the
steel delegation year or two before
would be useful The last named three
are the only pegs which the President
has fitted in on this end of the admin
istration cribbage board.
Raymond B. Stevens Criticised
"Thc only thing TO keep the Presi-
Shipping Board now is Raymond B
Stevens. the vice chairman, who is the
vermiform appendix of that body. He
is peg that never fitted in any place
He is liable to get infamed most any
day and haVW to be amputated Uncle
Sam would be unlike other millionaire
if he does not have appendicitis from
this useless member of his anatomy
This appendix already has cost hin
several million dollars by it's impos-
sible antics with payrolls and appropri
atoms. J mention him as an appendiH
because lie is peg that never fit any
hole, square or round. All any one
can do with Raymond B. Stevens is tc
from being sore"
Senator Gallinger, of New Hamp-
shire, asked Senator Sherman if Mr.
Stevens was not now in Europe con
fcrring with the great shipbuilders OF
England.
81 had understood Mr.. Stevens was
on foreign post" replied Senate,
Sherman. "But whether he will come
back with any practical knowledge OF
slMpbuilding | very much doubt. / am
perfectly willing that he should have
steamship passage and expenses paid
however, for the sake of his being ou,
of the United States. That is America ;.
gain
After critcising W. J. Bryan as
another square peg in a round hole
when Secretary of State, Mr.. Sherman
took up Secretary of War Baker. He
praised in highest terms Lindley Nj
Garrison.
ne was a square peg in square
hole" assorted Mr.. Sherman. "He be.
gan to gear up the machinery to op-
crate. He soon became uncongenia1
among many pegs in the wrong kind
of holes. The President didn't do much
to make him feel at home in the cab
met family and so he resigned. The
President looked over his pegs once
more. He got a pacifst peg ant
lammed it into the muzzle of the wa,
hole. Everybody was comfortable
again around thc cabinet. but the pub
nc has been much concerned, even wor.
ried. ever sincen