Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-04-25
Remaking Our Macy.
Theodore II. Price, in the Outlook.

President Wilson made Josephus Daniels
secretary of the navy in March. 1913. OF
all his cabinet appointments this was
probably the most criticized. What can
a newspaper editor know about ships? was
the question that was generally and cen
seriously asked, n it was usually am
swerel with a shrug of the shoulders and
the statement that the president was pay
Ing q political debt.
The Raleigh News and observer. which
Mr.. Daniels owned anil edited, had advo-
Gated Mr.. Wilson'S nomination and cleo
ton. by popular subscription in small
amounts, including a contribution of only
s1O from it's proprietor and editor. this
paper had raised some $25 coo or 5000 for
the democratic campaign fund. Mr..
Daniels had been Il member of the demo
cratic national committee since 1896, and
the political cynicism that was eager to
find an unworthy Interior motive In
every act OF a minority president was
quick To assume that these facts and the
selection made for the nav portfolio had
tina relation Of cause and effect. For a
time the imputatton, which was ignored
by both the president and Mr.. Daniels, led
to a prejudiced Interpretation OF the lat
teS'0 every act.
But our years have now elapsed. We
have been at war II months. From a
force OF 400 officers M Gs.0OO enlisted
men in January. 1917. the navy has grown
to l7,0o0 officers n $3.50 enlisted men.
including marines and reserves. 1t had
I'D stations of all kinds in January. l917.
Il now has 3es. tt number of employees
ct the regular navy yards In the United
states was increased from 5000. to over
q. 1000.
On shore and af1oat. including civilians
and sailors. the naval establishment now
embraces more than 10000 persons.
On January /. 1917. there were but 500
AAN,oN N.~A.~S~ - 80 10 A. ->--a.-t.-
Today there are more than 1000. and un-
der the command Of 4 corps Of officers
who have become h admiration OF the
world they are doing brilliant and effect
I've service in making the seas safe for
democracy.
In every department the navy is func-
tioning with precision. promptitude and
efficiency. We had hardly declared war
before our fleets were In Europe. And TIL.
secretary under whose direction all this
has boon accomplished IL now rediscov-
cred as one Of the ablest heads the navy
ever had.
Impressed by this revision of public
leadership and administrative ability so
much depends. I have 1een led to make
. somewhat critical study Of his career
and personality with the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether the confidence that he
has come to inspire IL Justified.
~ ~ AZ al times OlIIiCUlI eQulI0OIy TO
0ppraise a public man. It is especially
difficult when q nation Is at war and
the man Is at the head OF one Of the
great departments that Is charged with
tho duty OF wnging the war. AS few Of
us ever see those who are in the public
eye and fewer still can know them inti-
mately, we must depend on the news
papers for impressions. and the man who
can reach the people despite the barrage
OF . hostile press must DC genuine In his
sympathy and courageous in his democ-
racy.
I count It, therefore. greatly in Mr..
Daniels favor that despite the censorious-
ness Of the press the people have come
70 trust him n believe In him: for Lin
coin expressed a profound truth, when he
said. You can't deceive all of the people
All b Time" IA same progressive
growth Of confidence In Mr.. Daniels hon-
sety and good. sense = to b diacerned
among the naval officArs With whom i
hAvA talked. They were at first disposed
60 resent HE democracy. for the seradi-
ttone OF the navy ASO essentially aftSto-
eta4Sc. no llttle resentMsAt UAs q.
0eeeoed when b oecretAry loooa hls
6Asnoua order forhl6dlnes 1he o6r1ace az
a1ceAc1e dxinkD on naval veADe:o ot.in the
yosdA hut SOW hat We aro q var. the
Wee9om Ct thar ot6ee o. geNes6lly q.
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