Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-08-25
Prevention and Cure.

| Nlrh'h Beacon. E
A reader from Oklahoma differs
with our recent editorial concerning
the Republican attitude toward the
/ war. especially with regard To the
| mention Of Secretary Baker, saying
/ that the record ~ the war depart
mcnt In transporting million. sol
diers overseas is a rcfutStion Of our
argument.
/ tie seems to miss the point com
pictey
Every body In America Is proud Of
the record made iu getting the first
million soldiers trained and trans
ported We would not withhold any
credit from Mr. Baker In this mat
ter We feel much more kindly IN
I this respect. for Instance. than does
| the North American Review War
Weekly which says this record was
made possible only because great
numbers ~ allied ships were used
and because the Russian collapse en-
Hbled the allies TO divert enormous
supplies TO the American troops
which they had intended for t,the
/ Russians The war department de
serves credit for performing most ef-
fciently, speedily and creditably IN
this matter, and tho navy deserves
Just As much or even more credit
[ Tor its share
The point we werc driving at Is
thar the war administration lacks
fureslEht--yislon.
Mr. BaEer was doing the 'phvi-
ously necessary thing under the
/ desperate urge pf the 1918 German
spring drive And no aid II we'll
make no mistake about that
Tho physician who waits until
| patient is sick and then makes a
[ long and desperate fight for BAN gets
much credit That is human nature.
The physician who vaccinates against
disease, keeps out flies, Kills germs
compcls people To take exercise and
fresh air--in short the doctor who
believes I'm preparedness does %
hundrcdfold more for humanity. and
gets less credit for his work than
tho spectacular last -minute-rcsruo
Kind. People are prone 90 forget
that "an ounce NJ prevention ISL
worth a pound. of cure and that /
"ninc-tenths OF wisdom is being wise !
In time
II can be demonstrated with al
Hl'Nl IlNAlIflltIlll| Or |fHNNNANItNFNN
that N men OF tho wood type had
been in charge of our war policies
lu and after 1914 the war would
have been immeasunbly shortened
and very ihcIy would have been
over before now with great saving
Of NE and treasure
jutN latc iH 1917 Germany had
20 defend two fronts the east and
O. b.
foroscc events. and urged the use OF
a huge oversee army. II he had had
his way tho million men or more
would have been landed In France
before July. 1917. Instead OF July |
l9lN Germany with its forces al
,ijrd. could have been deClavely
beaten and Russia saved. But Rus
,.a was dlshcartcncd by the long
struggle and finally gave up to the
)ropagahdists with 1918 came It's
,omplutH collapse and then Germany
,cnt million and n half soldiers
With great quantities Of food and
'uuipmcut TO the west front
Now America has 20 cure the col
apsc OF Russia. whereas the pre-
,arcdnees advocates would have had
america prevent such collapse. or
1
,efore the collapse came.
The question OF what might have
,cen" IS Of course important only In
me point but that point should
1ever Dee overlooked That point In
hat men who fan 10 foresce coming
vents once are likely 10 do so again,
whereas the men who have vision 10
prescribe the cure before the emer-
yency is crashing about our ears are
most likely 10 meet coming problems
most wisely. And II must be remcm-
,ercd that there are many big prob
ems yet to be solved As we under
rand II leader is>one who can sec
lhead in NATIONAL aTfsirr-, Vision In
" much Dlore Importance IN cabi-
ret officer or department head than
no routine efficiency which handles
Emergencies after they arise