The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-16

Henry Mr. Hdye's Washington De-
spatch to the Chicago Tribune. Here's
the real truth of it, The first big step
necessary to win this war is the resig-
nation of Secretary Baker"
was talking with one of the most
important men in war work here at
the capital. / am certain of hi dis
interested patriotism. He has 40 po-
litical ambitions. He has been promi-
nent since war began in work-not in
the newspapers. His sons are not oc-
cupying nice, safe and handsomely
uniformed jobs in Washington, In
the course of many interviews have
learned to have great confidence in
his Judgment. He is by training
skilled executive.
Half dozen times in the last six
months l hay discussed, confidentially
with him, the progress of war prepare
tons
First Get Rid of Baker.
When | had this talk with him he
seemed reticent and FESTIVE He was
inclined to be eyasive. Finally he got
up from his chair, walked to win
dow and stood a moment staring out
into the snowy street. Then he sud
denly turned and, in an emphatic voice
declared the conviction which had
formed in his mind.
Here's the real truth of it, The
first big step to win this war is the
resignation of Secretary Baker.
Within an hour l talked to another
man equally prominent in an entirely
different line of war work He, too,
lis a man whose patriotic devotion is
unquestioned. He harbors no political
ambitions. He works long hours and
avoids the limelight. He should know
the exact status OF war preparations in
several directions He reviewed, con-
fidentially, the chief difficulties in the
way of making swifter progress. Then
he stopped, hesitated moment, and
broke out:
War Machine Needs Big Man.
We've got to put big man at the
head of our war machine, a man Of
great driving force and dominant per.
|sonality. Secretary Baker must re-
sign or be removed, if we are to win
the war
/ have been in Washington, talking
every day with men who are active
in the war work of the government
Almost without exception they are able
men, devoted1y patriotic, working long
hours at small salaries or none, to help
the United States win the war And
almost without exception they see, as
the first big step necessary to hasten
the progress of our war plans, the elm
ination of Secretary Baker as the head
of the war department.
Not one of them has ever mentioned
politics. Few of them have any per-
solal axes to grind. But they look on
the war as terrible reality. They do
mot believe-as Secretary Baker has
! testified-that because the present bat
| tlefields are 5000 miles away it is
safe and proper to delay for months
| the manufacture of rifles and cannon.
| SEE Menace in Baker
! Some of them are almost frantic be-
cause of the slow and bungling prog.
lress which is being made to meet
1.-The emergency They look on Secre.
tary Bakers continual optimism as an
lactual menace. They are frightened
at his reluctance to admit any serious
| fault or failure in the work of the war
department.
| Most of them know Secretary Baker
personally, and like him. They know
| too, that when great, unprepared ma
ton like the United States enters the
greatest war in history, the head OF
the war department is certain TO be
the storm center of criticism But, set.
ting aside personal feeling and making
allowances for the inevitable, they
have almost unanimously come to the
conclusion that Mr.. Baker has demon
strated his constitutional unfitness for
| his tremendous job.
The war secretary, they feel. is a
failure largely because of what, in nor.
nal times, would be considered his
good qualities. First of all he is a
humanitarian and an idealist.
Once Professional PacIfst
He is an amiable, able, alert and
trim little man He came into the wal
office professed and prominent paci
fist. He is kindly, just, over generous
lin his dealings whit subordinates He
lis too quick to rush to their defense
too ready to shoulder responsibility
for their failures, too slow in punish
ling slackness and incompetency in the
war department.