Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-26

Two 0OlO pO0lClOuS Oh uOIo OF AeOO AAu'
portance in the administration and
the first hve have appointments Of
major rank. But they were appoint
ed without the Overman bill. which.
according to The Courter's conception
of 1t, merely seeks to give the presi-
dent the authority to coordinate the
various governmental activities and
eliminate vast deal Of the red tape
which has made for ine6iciency.
Senator Sherman's point, of course.
was that an executive who has ap-
pointed men like those he named should
not have his power for appointment
and his general authority enlarged.
But in this The Courier Is unable to
follow the Illinois senator. Under the
provisions OF our constitution. Mr..
Wilson will be president until 1921, as
Senator LOWS acclaimed soEproudly
and dehantly q week or 20 ago in one
Of his partisan outbursts. That means
that the United STATES, whether an Its
people like It or not, must win or lose
the war under the Leadership OF Prest-
dent Wilson, for the result OF the
struggle will be evident to all tho
world before another year can pass
into history.
Obviously, then. the people Of the
United States have but one possible
course-to widen the war-maktns
powers of the president so that he
may not be restricted in the employ
ment Of the nations best energies and
maximum strength for tho purpose OF
making war ON Germany and her vas
sal allies. The absence of centraliz.
alton Of power has been our weakness
thus far in the war. The Overman bill
President Wilson's own
ideas Of the authority he lacks and
should have to bring about centralis.
alton and coordination. II, given that
authority. he should use it unvtsely.
America must psy the penalty, Of
covrse. But II the authority - WITH
held from him. VINO II to WELD It?
The people Of tho United States o.
cdded the question which Senator
Sherman seeks to debate when their
majority voted to reflect President
Wilson in 1915. They must OF neces.
sity trust him in the present emer-
Eency and give him every possible a.
sistance. II they conclude in 1920,
that their judgment in 1915 was erro-
neous. the ballot will give them an
opportunity to register that conclu-
sion. Meanwhile, however, the war
must be won, and on It's outcome de-
ponds the permanency OF the very
suyerument under which ballots are
cast and citizenship is enjoyed.
with the singie exception Of Profes-
sor Kennels appointment to assist
Secretary Baker, the acts OF the prssi-
dent- since Senator Chamberlain pre-
cipitated nationwide discussion of his
war department, have been aimed
in general at the coordinauon ana
intensified war making for when
Senator Chamberlain made HE
seif-sacrihcing piea. We suspect
that Mr.. NmmePs appointment
was more q concession to Sec1$
tary Bakers desires than an express
sion Of Mr.. Wilson's personal prefer
ence. for the president followed that
APPOINTMENT by giving approval to
one which unQuestionably indicates
an understanding OF the serfousness
and yastness OF the nations war prob
lens. This was the naming OF MT
Srhwab to superintend the building OF
ships.
II the American public has learned
ANYTHING Of Mr.. Wilson's nature our
Ing his Ave wears Of service. It Is that
he is remarkably faithful to his foi.
lowers and friends. No amount or
cr4ticivm Of the war department could
induce him to part with Secretary
Baker nor force him into the unwel-
come role Of administration goat.
There 10 no more Likelihood mat
George Creel will be asked to mako
way, for a regular herman with ten
denotes to war instead OF ELIMINATION
for the peacefalness Of impotence: !.
But in his own way the president
has shown the good results OF the
criticism Of his administration by
sending Mr.. Baker abroad for q taste
of war and in bringing him back to
discover a somewhat reorganised
w,rmaking machine with q demand
that he at into It without placing a
sprax in any of the wheels. In his
own way the president has indicated
a desire to spesd up the country's
preparation for war by asking Tor au-
thorfty, through the Overman Dill,
which will permit him, II he desires,
To appoint 1uet such q supreme war
council as millions Of his countrymeu
have been demanding. In his own
way he is bringing about measure
Of coordination. as evidenced by his
decision In the Garneld-McAdoo quar-
| rel over coal prices for railroads.
There are other instances to indi
cate that he desires to remedy the De
fleets which have crippled the nation
thus far in its prosecution Of the war
And while his way is more indirect
i than it might be, 1t gives at least
lpromise Of achieving the purpose
which ia the supreme object OF every
true and loyal American citizsn-v1c
tory over Prassianism.
The Courier 10 not in sympathy
with the idea that criticism OF execu
Tive acts constitutes disloyalty. Bu'
naithsr are We in sympathy with cat
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