The Washington herald., 1918-01-24

Now when the smoke OF battle has
blown away-or been supplanted by
snow fiurries, shall We say-it can
be seen what the effects Of Bill
stones speech were.
The very common tslk,At the Cap
itol was that it was an asinine move
on the part of the Missouri Senator
to undertake this at this particular
time.
The further talk is that no one
takes it seriously. however, and the
hope is expressed that those who do
not know the Senator as well as we
do in Washington. will be led to see
its Appropriateness, and its pitiful
weakness.
For the information OF people here
who want a little more of the truth
it might be well to remind them that
Senator Stone will have a race on
one of these days in his home State
and that the paper which will fight
him. the Kansas City Star, has as its
contributing editor, one Theodore
Roosevelt.
Therefore-oh. well what's the use
or going 1urther?
|, Business men OF the nation are
giving the thought of Capitalization
much attention. 1t has been a rather
well-established rule in successful big
business that power be centralized to
some extent. The hope of the coun-
try's business men is that a war cab
met bill of some kind or other-per-
haps compromise between the
President and the Senate Military Af-
fairs Committeeman be arranged. If
this Is done the same coordination
may be provided for our war activi-
ties and there may be no bad after
effects by reason of a clash between
the President and the Senate.
If any of the members of Congress
entertained the belief that President
Wilson was wavering in the matter of
retaining Secretary Baker. they are
disabused of II by this time.
The Presidents statement in behalf
of Secretary Baker shows clearly
what one or two of the wisest Sena-
tors have felt for some time-that
the President has the utmost affec-
tion for the little human dynamo who
co-operates his War Department.
and that whosoe'er attacks Baker
attacks him.
There are certain matters, however
which require the thought of the
President, apart from personal con-
sideratioD, so a number of the mem
bers of Congress point out They hope
that the Presidents regard for his
subordinate will not result in a dis
regard of some things which very
potently affect the men who are going
out to do the fighting-and who have
to stay behind and foot the bills.
The latter two classes are super-im-
portant as compared to individuals.
Master builders Of the country have
sent members Of Congress a striking
ly democratic appeal on behalf of
the smaller business concerns Of the
country.
In effect IL asks that larger concerns
help to nurture the smaller concerns
and that they and officials who have
large government contracts to give
out remember that as the infinitely
large number of small concerns pros
per SO is the country itself likely to
prosper and be in position to help
pay war taxes and buy liberty
bonds, etc.
In the statement this Is set out
ana 1t may be read with profit by all
who have anything to do with making
our country solid to withstand the
ravages Of war:
The larger manufacturers and
contractors are enlarging plants and
organizations at rate not approach
ed In peace times; and much of this
enlargement Is absolutely necessary,
for the nature Of the work makes il
impossible to divide. sublet and dis
tribute. But there remains large
volume of business which can be
scattered among the smallest out
fits keeping them alive and resulting
IN no loss Of money. time or quality.
Some concerns are already doing this
-subietting freely instead Of at
tempting enlargement Of their own
scyipWaHt 4ara af 4 &auid bs
4