The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-10
Wood, the Soldier, Goes;
Baker, the Pacifisf, and
CfeeI, the Faker, Stay

prived of the services of its greatest
commander? 1t seems incredible.
And yet this is what the sending OF
Major General Leonard Wood to the
Pacific coast means. There is moth
ing for him to do there that a retired
colonel could not perform satisfactor-
lily. Every army officer knows that.
Wood is to be shelved definitely and
permanently. His division of 10000
men are on their way to France, but
ne, their beloved chief, who has made
soldiers of them. is ordered to obliv-
ion. What, in the name of Almighty
God and of the American people, does
this portend? Has the administration
gone crazy? Can it be so stepped in
self-sufficiency as to believe that the
preparation of so gross an outrage,
not merely upon a gallant officer. but
upon thousands or it may be millions
of no less gallant lads whose very
lives are dependent upon leadership.
and direction of the highest order at
tainable, can pass unheeded and I'M
rebuked.
Last week we wrote gladly and re
joicingly of the president at his best.
Must we now. with sinking heart, de-
pict the president at his worst? Be
cause it is the president and nobody
else. There can be no hiding behind
the general stafr, the chief of staff or
the pacifist secretary of war. The en-
tire and undivided responsibility rests
squarely upon the commander-in-chief.
And why should our senior general
oficer-the only one whose name had
ever been heard abroad before Perish
ing went and the only one of whom
Mr.. Lloyd George did ask of Mr.. Me-
dill Mccormick. despite diplomatic
denials, Where is Leonard Wood? '-
Why should he, we inquire, be shelly
ed, punished and humiliated? His
record is unimpeachable: all admit
that. He rendered superb service in
Cuba; none can deny that He holds
the respect and admiration of the regu-
lar army to a marked degree; despite
the fact that he was not a graduate
of West Point, any officer will tell you
that. He was the most capable chief
of staff the country ever had; If we
mistake not, President Wilson testi-
fed to that in effect. he successfully
passed a rigorous physical examin-
alton and is six years under the age
of retirement So why, why, why?
The answer is Baker, or rather Bak-
er and Creel Wood was for prepar-
edness; Baker was not; Creel not only
was not but is hoping for a long, long
life SO that to the very end thereof,
to his dying day, he may continue up
on Bonded knees before his crib each
night to thank God that he was not.
AS we recall the happenings and
speeches of these days, the president
varied somewhat. But there was no
doubt about Wood. He was for get
ting ready-not to seek trouble, but
to meet it If 1t should. as 1T finally did
come-and he said so whenever he got
a chance. Frankly, we had forgotten
how far-seeing he was and We are
rather startled when, last evening.
we dug up his testimony before the
senate military affairs committee
away back in December. 1916, and in
January, 1917. Here are some of the
things he said:
I'VE are confronted squarely with
the question OF preparedness. Just
ask a soldier what would happen If we
had to meet well-trained enemy.
You can imagine what would have hap
pened in the war with Spain if that
country had been = strong well-organ-
lied power.
This country is in effect unpre-
pared. We need. and need immedi-
ate1y, a system for the training OF
men, and we should push forward the
manufacture of munitions and equip
ment with all possible speed. The
lessons of the present militia mobil-
ization with its incompleteness OF
equipment, its shortages in all direc-
tons. extending to the present mo-
ment in many things, in the matter
of clothing, shortages in artillery,
shortages in various directions, all in
dicating the need of systematic and
welLthought-out preparation, and that
without delay.
1--WE should also take up with the
railroads the question of constructing
the right type of car for the move
ment of men, horses. arms and guns
"a type which at the same time
would be useful for everyday work.
but have those essentials which would
make it available for the use above
referred to. We should also organize
our railway men so that they will be
available in time of war. 1t would be
the height of folly to take over an able
transportation man from one of our
great railroads, where he can do his
best work, and use him as an officer
reference to communications, tele-
phone and telegraph. Their controll-
ing men must know something of
what is to be expected of them in
time of war. and from their forces
must be organized large reserves for
use along the coast and with the
troops. These are some of the many
things which must be done in the way
of organizing our industrial resources.
Our people have been told Of our
great wealth and resources in men.
They have never been told that these
amount to nothing in the way Of meet
ing an immediate attack unless or
ganized and trained and unless the
materials or war have been supplied.
Panic patriotism and patriotism as
Illustrated by the putting out OF flags;
and the offer of money and material
after the war is upon US, while indi-
eating good spirit, indicate lack of
intelligent appreciation. 1t is too