New-York tribune., 1918-01-23
Up to the People
They Alone Can Persuade the
President and Save the Country
To the Editor of The Tribune.

PRESIDENT and OaVc the NOuntry
To the Editor of The Tribune.
| Sir: | have read with considerable interest
and satisfaction your editorial Yin to-day s
Tribune. 1t states the case admirably and
succinctly. I have spoken with number Of
citizens in the last week or so regarding con-
ditions in which the United States finds itself
to-day under the present direction Of its af-
fairs, and all agree that 1t is time that some
thing radical must be done.
1t seems to me that it is not the part Of
patriotism or good citizenship to remain
silent in crisis such as now exists through
fear that the outside world will hear that
all is not we'll with us. No country is better
aware of our plight than Germany, have no
doubt, as she is famous for an efficient secret
service and surely our allies know to their
sorrow that we are not in the state of pre-
paredness or efficiency that all had hoped for
when we entered the war;
1t is no help to the United States, there
tore, to remain silent and let things run
along in the manner that is considered by all
the country and all the world with the OK
cepton of the President and his advisers, to
be horribly muddled and inefficient. Rather
tsls the part of good citizenship to protest
against a continuance of the methods that
have brought us to our present sorry plight.
Inc president has appealed in tho past to
the people Of the United States to support
hlm without question in his plans, and they
have done so in patriotic spirit, even
though their chosen representatives at Wash.
ington have often protested. We have given
him the best chance to make good his policy
and plans that ever President has had both
IN moral and financial support. He surely
can have no complaint on that score But
we cannot be expected forever to obey with
out question, like frightened schoolboys in
charge of stern pedagogue, and it is high
time that the people give an indication to the
Administration that they are not satisfied
with the way things are going and that they
make clear in unmstakabIe fashion that they
are not behind the President in his attempt
TO throttle proposed piece of legislation,
l'ke the one championed by Mr. Chamberlain
and Others Tor an efficient War Cabinet COM
posed OF three distinguished citizens. and
mat they are not with him in his idea that
secretary Baker is most able public off,
clal, capable of handling the present s;.ua
tion.
This is no time for qubbling. Every one
bellcves that Mr.. Baker is we'll meaning, but
the task is beyond his capacities. Just as the
tasks of the other members of the Canine,
arc very evidently more than they can han
dle and the sooner the reins are put into the
hands OF efficient and capable men-surely
there are many of such in our great country
If one is willing to forget party lines-the
sooner we shall be in a position where we
can hold our heads up among the nations and
see real progress by the United States in
the war;
The idea of a War Cabinet is not new. r.
has been rcsorted to successfully by our
allles, and we ought to be able to profit bv
thelr experience II we are not too headstrong
and egotlstical. 1t is a practical idea that
Will mean results instead Of laundering. and
1t deserves the hearty support of every cit-
zen who has the interest of his country At
heart.
Let us all make clear to the President. |
through our representatives at Washington. |
how we, the people to whom he has ad |
dressed his previous appeals for cooperation. |
leel about this matter. Let US inform him
respectfully, but none the less firmly. that
conditions must be changed and quickly. and
thAt individual notions party politics must
not be allowed to stand in the way. Let us
do our part toward the creation of different |
order of administration of the army and navv
and our international affairs before it is FOO
late
The creation of q board. such as is
proposed, is the first step, and we must take
it now. 1t is up to the people to save the
country and to the newspapers to cooperate
so that there can be no possible mistake IN
Washington to what the country demands
Mr.. President, before it is too late, change
your attitude of aloofness and listen to the
voice of the people. They demand efficient
and coordinated action, very different from
what has gone before. Pay heed to the coun-
sci of the peoples esentatives-before It
is too late. FREDERIC L. Sp1RO
New York, Jan. %, 1918