The Washington herald., 1918-01-25

Several times lately Mr.. Brisbane
has remarked that passage Of the war
cabinet bill is much desired by BIG
BUSINESS, and that Republican lead
ers are trying to paw chestnuts out Of
the fire for B. B. in processing some
friendship for this legislation.
Moreover, Mr.. Brisbane has insisted
that passage of this legislation would
take management of the war out OF
President Wilson's hands.
Both guesses are wrong-in view OF
the very plain provisions of the bill.
The truth is the war cabinet proposed
is to comprise three men of known
qualifcations-and all of them ap-
pointed by the President himself,
For these places Mr.. Wilson, IL he
so chose, could name Secretaries
Baker, Daniels and Mr.. House. OF
course, they would have to give up
their present positions. to accept the
new places, but they could easily do
that in order to go to the places Of
greater power.
But II the President did not want to
do that he could name any other
three men IN WHOM HE HAD con-
| FIDENCE.
In no event, it Is certain, would he
name men who would either become
the vassals of Big Business or the
tools of corrupt or designing poll
ticians.
He would nape-were this bill to
pass-three men whom he felt would
be entirely responsive to his will
Certainly Mr.. Brisbane could not OBJ
ject to this. Nor can he deny that
chances of misleading or corrupting
three men are as numerous as mis-
leading or corrupting thirty-three or
more men in whom the diffused pow
ers of conducting the war are now
rested.
Mr.. Brisbane sees Republican orig
ination of this proposed legislation.
The truth is, the bill was drawn by
subcommittee, two members Of which
were Democrats and one a Repub-
lican. And the measure, at the time
It was drawn, had the majority sup
port of a committee made up prin-
cipally of Democrats.
II Mr.. Brisbane toted fair with the
men who believe in the legislation he
would say that Big Business cannot
go as far under this bill as it can un-
der the present system.
And he would say that Political Pt-
rates CdHIlOl SO us II dS IiiCg
can under the present system.
1t is easy to impugn motives to
sincere men when they go about 1t to
correct manifest wrongs-but it is
quite difficult sometimes to bring
forth proof. Mr.. Brisbane, work
though he might day and night from
now till the end of the war, would
find it exceedingly hard to prove to
Americans that more effective and
more honest conduct of the war can
come from thirty-three men. working
sometimes against each other, than
from three men working always un-
der the eye of the President, and
toward a splendid and helpful co-ordi-
nation of all our war activities.
There are rumors at the Capitol that
the present effort of the President to
defeat the war cabinet and munitions
director bills has at it's root the inten-
ton to defeat the universal training
bill.
Certain it is that the party whip will
be cracked quite as ostentatiously
over that measure as over the mea-
sures now under consideration.
A monstrous demand for enactment
Of the universal training legislation
has come from the country during the
past few weeks. But the President
is opposed to 1t. His advisers see that
something drastic must be done--and
the way is being paved to do II!
When the time comes. some OF the
men who cracked the party whip yes
terday will be given the chance to
jump with quite as much alacrity as
some of the men whom they took some
delight in making respond yesterday
to White House pressure.
The shoe will be on the other foot
shortlyTand some Of the things several
members said privately yesterday will
be said by other members then.
Such is Congressional life--when out
side pressure is applied.
1t appears that the idea OF price,
fixing is growing in Congress quite as
much as Senator Borah declared 1t
would II the members went on and
arranged the food control bill as they
finally did.
The change in the Judgment Of
Congress Is no change at all. The
members believe quite as they believed
last July. The change is in the
people-the members have been told In
unmistakable terms that their com
stituents do not like legislation Of this
character.
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