The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-27
Criticism
Its Existence During War
National Necessity.
Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune.
The government L. trying to mako
criticism appear malignant and de-
structive. II this character could b.
given it, IL this malicious aspect could
be made to appear as its true aspect.
| 1t would lose constructive force. The
government would be protected. The
nation would not be.
The object Of both administrator and
critic is to win this war. We do not
deny the governments desire to win It.
The government tries to deny its crit
ics' will to win it.
Criticism is at times hot and impa-
tient. 1t will be when the adminis-
tIative spirit Of self exculpation res
| veals itself in stubborn SELF defense res
gardless Of facts. True criticism u
defense of the men in the most pre-
| carious position-the soldiers. Bad ad-
| ministration is the worst enemy OF
these men.
Throughout this war criticism must
be continuing factor. What does the
administration desire? An adulating
claque? Is it consistent with the the
Wy Va thhS ACpuuAN ludI lIokO 8uOubCs
| be no check upon administrative acts?
To defend the right OF criticism
ought to be unnecessary In this ma
ton. But when the spokesman OF q
| government try to confuse criticism
| and disloyalty, to make critics appear
as enemies of American effort, and
criticism appear as destructive OF
American purpose, then 1t L. time to
| ask what meat is this which feeds q
government.
Criticism has been Iaboring. TO force
reluctant government to accept the
organization which any great American
| enterprise. divorced from, politics,
would adopt instantly. Through this
organization it would be possible to
protect the men at the front by insur-
ing them their supplies. the equipment
and munitions. by getting the ships
needed for transport of men and ma
terial. by keeping the output Of tho
nations resources up to the level de-
manded by the necessities Of the men.
| Observe the complacency with which
the administration contemplates what
has been done and the indifference
with which it regards what has not
been done. Observe the savageness
with which it turns upon critics pre-.
senting facts. There can only be an
attack upon the men presenting them.
| The nation is told to consider the
magnitude of the task. to regard the
war as three thousand miles away, to
| take into account the fact that prep-
aration requires time. and to appreci-
ate that the demands upon the gov-
eminent have been swollen almost be-
yond the ability of the wisest govern
ment to meet them.
! IF criticism needed a justification It
would be found here. For how many
weary months before the United States
engaged in the war was this govern
ment warned? The criticism which
now is labeled disloyal then was per-
severing against encouragement.
The government was told that 1t
could not wait for the event and then
prepare for it. 1t was implored to per-
feet the organization and improve the
war material of the United States. It
was begged. in the Mexican crisis. to
provide the guns for the army 1t then
had in being. 1t was implored to OBJ
tain machine guns and heavy and
HSdSy utlHItIy. All Tic plIllul
deficiencies We're exposed. Criticism did
everything in its power to awaken a
responsive intelligence in Washington.
but not a leaf stirred TO indicate that
a breath Of common precaution had
passed over the city.
The administration went into war
which had been approaching this ma
ton with the steadiness of an assured
fate and went into it without having
taken a single, simple precaution. Was
criticism justified in this case? Evil
IDENTIFY not, If it be now disloyal and
seditious.
When war was an assured fact and
no longer an increasing threat, criti-
cism subsidized. The unity Of the ma
ton in the time of danger had to be
considered and all other considerations
gave way to the demonstration Of un-
mixed loyalty to a common cause di-
rected by a government enthusiast.
cally supported.
The government was warned that it
could not equip an army II it waited
until an army was needed. It was
warned that there would be a coal
shortage II 1t did not anticipate the
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that 1t could not put ships on the sea
quickly enough il it did not bring unity
OF purpose out of the conflict of pro-
grams and personalities in Washing
ton.
All these things have come true and
the administrative disposition is to
rend the critics who point to the past
as evidence Of their sincerity in urg-
ing action for the future.
Is it disloyalty to urge the govern
ment to employ at once the best talent
) which can be found in the United
States for the biggest undertaking in
which the United states ever engaged
: Is it disloyalty to urge the govern
: ment to break down at once a system
. which produces conflict Of admins
trative acts and results in confusion.
l delay. deficiency. and danger and peril
r to the men at the front?
1 In a crisis arriving near the end Of
Americas first year in war. - il dis
loyal to wish that the complacency
with ,.,nsob Aha -