Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-02-14
LOGIC WITH WILSON.

uatlOn WIN reference 10 the COun-
try's preparations for war. Secretary
Baker and his critics do not agree
concerning the facts. President Will
son and Senator Chamberlain widely
differ with regard to conditions.
Without having all the details at
hand, il is Il case wherein the people
must proceed along the line Of blind
faith, as it We're. Public policy de-
crees that a complete disclosure OF ali
the incidents and circumstances CON
nected with Americas part in the
wal and its preparations for war can
not be made, and hence the evidence
is i~nconclusive.
But, upon genral principles, the logic
of events lies with the president. He
is the commandments Of the ar
mies, and as such is in supreme com
mand. Military eXperience-we may
this supreme authority shall not be
divided. No war has been won in
the history Of the world through a
division or diffusion of power. Con-
centration of responsibility, which
means centralized direction, has ever
been essential to military success
Mr.. Wilson'S environments. it is
&,,o /, "a ,o ,,,t bna,. r,,ob 20 tn 81 hin,
for the tremendous tasks that now
confront him. He has been distinct,
lively a theorist, without contact with
what may be termed practical affairs.
Great as he is admitted to be, there
Is no basis for assuming that his mis-
takes are not likely to be many or.
grave in such a crisis as America now
finds itself engulfed.
Nevertheless, as we have suggest
ed, the logic of the situation is with
the president. In the final analysis
the responsibility rests upon his
shoulders for either success or fail
ure, for victory or defeat.
Senator Chamherlain's proposed
measure does not shift the burden
from the president, who is clothed
with the right of selecting the war
council which the senator would ere
ate. Mr.. Wilson would still repain
the supreme head. with power for
supreme direction.
Hence, since the president seems
determined to retain all the author
ity conferred upon him by the con-
stitution and to remain and continue
as the supreme directing force, we
fail to perceive wherein conditions can
Be materially improved through the
enactment OF measures to the passage
Of which the president is radically op-
posed.
The power is his now. He has vir-
tually served notice on congress that
he proposes to let one of it slip from
his grasp. He has hitherto shown
that he is 4 man not without courage.
The president must de trusted,
therefore. yet d little further. The
only possible accomplishment which
criticism of the management of the
war can hope to bring about Is the.
squirting of the president and his aides
10 renewed energy and greater speed.
But the president has shown that he
Intends TO be what the constitution
makes him-the eommsnder-in-chief
81 the American military forces,
ME- Wilson. however, practically
admits the force Of the criticism which
has been directed against the de-
parfments ~ Offering an administers
don III confarring supreme dictas
korialspoNers upon the president, That
his anawer II Senator Chamber
lains proppsoassittons and II " ans
Aner Mhtch virtually pleads guilty ID
III senatoras lAtaStnent q theNar
TIE president have
i IVA h,SllMiperd by interpreting
presidents c~riticsare|
AlnnsySNsay Time slone Nill
Whether hRs president xble
rS0ke order NOM Mhak nonAp
ssralc chaos
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