Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-16
the one man in the country In whom
power for war should be centralized.

power for war should be centralized
Senator Cummins added nothing to
the fighting strength Of America when
he rose in the senate yesterday to sug'
gest that under the proposed measure
the president would be able to dele
gate all his powers and duties to q
deputy president" and virtually re-
tire. Had 1t been made anywhere else
than in the senate II would have been
called silly remark. 1t merited re-
buke, but Senator Lewis shot far wide
Of the mark when he attempted a re-
ply.
Woodrow Wilson will be president
for three years." he said. President
Wilson will command this war. He
will take responsibility and Will not
allow any agency to deprive him OF
the necessary authority to win this
fight. warn you that neither Tor
political opportunity nor for personal
advantage of any man will the OPP
ponents of unlimited authority to the
commander in chief be permitted by
the people to succeed"
In these sentences Senator Lewis
convicted himself Of narrowness OF
view which long has been his beset-
ting evil and which is shared by far
too many of the other members OF the
senate and house. 1t Is highly un-
necessary to say that the president
will take responsibility for the out
come of the war in which America is
engaged. The responsibility Is his by
reason of his official position, whether
ne would assume It or not; he could
not evade It and he never has tried to
eyade It. That is not question for
debate.
But the assumption Of responsibility
is not pertinent now. Americans VINO
are shocked and amazed at the reve-
lation Of inefficiency which has GRIP
pled the nations war making powers
during the past year get no comfort
from the knowledge that, in the last
analysis, they can hold the president
responsible because his appointees
and their assistants have not been able
to carry out the ambitious war pro-
gram which, year ago, inspired
Americans and their allies with the
belief that by this time our army
would be a major factor In achieving
q German defeat. :.
Should Germany win victory over
England and France and invade Amer
lea It would be no comfort to Amer
leans in their extremity to know that
one man in Washington might be held
responsible for their misfortunes.
The American public, Senator Lewis
should realize. is not seeking goat"
on whom to load the odium of defeat.
Americans want to win the war IN the
shortest possible time. And an IN
,creasing number Of American citizens
are coming to realize what senator
Lewis and too great a number OF MS
fellow office holders OF both parties
cannot seem to see-that victory Is
possible only for unified and united
America. Joined in common effort,
with neither time nor interest to de-
vote to consideration Of partisan
politics now or after the war.
The Congressional Record is
document 1t can be con-
suited, when the war fs over, by any
one who desires then to fix response
bilfty for the partisan debates which
are delaying the progress Of war legis-
iation. The thing congress- should do
now and the thing 1t must do II Amer
lea is to write "Well done" across the
history Of its second year OF war par
ttcipation, is to lay aside partisanship
and achieve TN attitude OF patriotism.
It would be a calamity to foreclose
the public's inherent right to voice its
opinions of the administration IN us
prosecution Of the war or In any OF
its other activities. 1t is fundamental
in America that whatever power any
of,cial. set Of officials or administra-
ton may have ia delegated by the pub
lie. It is not only the right Of that pub
lie. but its duty, to know and discuss
the manner In which It's delegated pow
ar fs administered Were 1t blind to
this duty 1t would be unable to decide
with wisdom as between issues In cam
paigns and elections through which It
confers authority on successive admin
It is this fact, beyond question.
which impelled President Wilson, q
wear or more ago, to invite construc-
tive criticism Of the administration.
But whenever such criticism has been
offered such men as Senator Lewis.
who think only in terms of political
partisanship, have impunged the mo-
tives Of the critic, accused him OF par
tisanship even when the critic was
a member Of the administration party.
and even charged him with disloyalty,
in many instances, for doing no more
than constitutional duty to which at
tention had been called by the presi-
dent himself.
Thus, when it was shown that condi-
lions in the war department were at
skies and sevens and that Secretary
Baker and his assistants had permit
ted inefYiciency to jeopardize Ameri-
cas- prospects and those Of civilization.
an awakened public voiced demand
that this very important section Of the