The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-22

Mr.. Wilson so CONSTITUTES them and
with d stubbornnesc so typical Of hi
dealings with Congress he will brook
no encroachment on his prerogatives
The Congress believed last April In
one-man power, a GENERALIZATION oil
power in the Executive, and Mr.. will
son out of an abundance of military
knowledge not possessed by the Sen
ate or. House is ready to go to the
country on the issue of whether
America has made progress or not
But the usual excuse of military
secrecy is being offered now as the
reason for an enforced silence.
Secretary Baker. for instance, is
said to have remarked TO a friend that
the German Emperor doesn't 60
around making detailed explanations
Of how the army IL getting along and
informing England about the num-
bers of troops and their equipment
and he doesn't propose to help the
Kaiser by being any more explicit
than he was before the Senate COM
mittee.
VIII stand By Baker.
And the Presidents statement about
Senator Chamberlain means that he
il going to stand by Secretary Baker
to the last ditch and people who have
solemnly spread stories OF an expect
ed removal of it's chief are going to be
disappointed.
Mr.. Wilson's vehement approval OF
Secretary Baker indeed Is not to be
construed alone as the defense OF an
associate, but as a move also to
restore confidence in him where the
public discussion may possibly have
affected the morale OF the army or
the War Department. To put a new
man in at the head Of the war ma
chine would. in Mr.. Wilson's view, be
to lose the valuable experience gained
by Secretary Baker through the last
nine months,
In other words since the President
has no intention OF removing Mr..
Baker he goes to the other extreme
OF announcing a fulsome support. The
outcry against Mr.. Baker differs in
Mr.. wilson's view very little from the
storm which a year ago ragged about
the Secretary OF the Navy. As. Mr..
Daniels has come up in prestige by
the achievements OF the navy so will
the country soon learn whether he
(Secretary Baker, or his critics un-
derstand the business in hand"
Distemper and patriotism do not
fuse. The nation has been patient and
forebearing. The executive branch of
the Government has brought on most
OF its troubles by a lack OF frankness
with the people and with Congress.
II criticisms are misguided they are
based on such facts as are available,
and there is no convincing informa-
ton from an official source in refuta-
ton.
Explains Stand.
The President summoned a dozen
Democratic Senators to the White
House last night to explain his oppo-
sitIon to the war cabinet idea OBJ
viously II will not become law, as
there are not enough votes to pass IT
over his veto should the situation even
reach that point of defiance, which
now IL doubtful.
But Mr.. Wilson, significantly
enough, Is calling members OF his
party into conference-a wholesome
change in itself. Maybe II will be Mr..
Wilson himself who will clear away
the distemper by bringing about the
much needed cooperation not only
with members OF Congress but be-
tween the heads OF his own war-mak-
ing bureaus, whose lack OF touch with
the President have contributed no
little TO the impression OF inefflciency
and confusion that reigns. What Is
needed in Washington Is less thought
OF self and things personal and po
litical on all sides and more thought
of the country and Of the crisis on
the battlefelds OF France.