New-York tribune., 1918-01-22


idle to consider. He has had many harsh
things to say of "Big Business" Nor Is
there any need to speak here of his SEEM
ing aloofness, nor the fact that he is re-
garded in Washington as the most mac
cesslble- President who ever entered the
White House; nor his apparent disinclna-
tion to gather around him and work with
men of strong and aggressive character
1t is no endeavor to discredit the Ad.
mlnistration to say that such men are
lacking now. We have Cabinet that
was not distinguished even for peace
times, and now wofully inadequate for
the business of war. The vital problem
in this hour of need is how to bridge this
situation and bring the splendid talents
of the President into contact with and CO.
operation with the finest organizing and
executive minds on tho business and in
dustrial side that this country can now
produce.
There is now before Congress bill
looking to this end. 1t is not a partisan
measure. 1t has been framed and is
backed by conservative Democratic Sena-
tors not hostile to the Administration. We
believe it will have the undivided support
OF every well informed American in touch
with and cognizant of the existing situa-
ton, whether Democrat or Republican.
This measure gives over the control
and direction of the material side of the
war, the business of planning and engi-
neerlng, the getting of an army and a
tremendous store Of food and munitions
and aeroplanes across the Atlantic and
into action. 1t is not an innovation. To
such war council England and France
have been driven by the same bitter ex-
perlence we are now having. 1t is identi
cally such board as Germany created,
not ten months or two years after the war
began, but long before.
BY it's terms Secretary Baker and Sec
retary Daniels would be excluded from
membership in this council, and with a
wisdom which, we think, needs no insist
ence. 1t is not the Baker or the Daniels
type, however valuable these types NAV
be in other times or under other condi.
tlons. OF which this nation now stands in
such vital need. We do not want. for the
successful conduct of the war. no]it;c;ans
or lawyers or, without disrespect, country
editors. We have in the President him
SELF a man admirably endowed with
emotional understanding, with a rare
genius for expressing lofty sentiments.
What we need-what the whole coun-
try is coming to recognize we need-in the
war council is men, if we may 80 phrase
1T, of the Cassatt and Carnegie and James
y. Hill mould. We would even 90 so far
as to say men of the Hartman. J. =.
Morgan and Marshall Field type-n1en of
a peculiar combination of imagination and
daring, men of the seeing eye and the
doing hand. In brief, men of organizino
co0rdinating and executive genius.
Can such men be found? Will the
President, without thought of political
consequences or party advantage, appoint
such men? Can he work with them and
through them when they are found? We
s1lli believe that he can and we still believe
that he will
We believe it Notwithstanding the angry
manner in which he retorts even unon mon
OF his own party who presume to criticisc
the conduct of the war.
We believe it in spite of Senator Cham
berlain's experience.
We believe it because the alternative is
traught with such consequence that it
might mean, in this fateful hour, world
disaster.
One OF Americas foremost newspapers,
stanch supporter of the President, said
tersely the other day: "Every business
man, every loyal American, ought to have
over his desk a card bearing the words,
Germany Is Winning This War;"
This fact is coming home to the Ameri-
can consciousness. 1t is coming to the
realization of Congress. There is feel
ing that, by reason of his Temperament
and inaccessibility, it is not pognantlv
clear to the President.