Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-09


Cabinet and that he must. indeed.
reorganize the Democratic party in
Congress so that he will have adj
visers in the Executive branch of
the Government and leaders in the
Legislative branch who are in SYM
pathy with the true wishes and
spirit Of the American people.
After talking with dozens of
these men, the names of any one of
whom, if published. would carry the
conviction that they are seeking
only things which will help and not
hurt the President, one gets a con-
sensus of opinion which is unmis-
taxable. Here and there are sug-
gestions Of method which differ.
here and there are different degrees
Of dissatisfaction, but, put categori-
cally, these are some of the mis-
takes which the President himself
is declared to have made or to be
making today:
First, the President in his absorp-
ton in foreign questions. has gotten
cut Of touch with the true spirit of
America on domestic questions. He
has listened to a small group of ad-
visers who have had his ear to the
exclusion of the greater group of
friends who come from the Middle
West and West and sections Of the
East where people are finding it dill
ficult to reconcile the brand Of de-
mocracy which Mr.. Wilson preached
at the outset of his Administration
With the retention Of distinctly auto
cratic and bureaucratic advisers
and with his own seclusiveness.
Second, the friends of the Presi-
dent are unable to understand why
George Creel should be taken to
Europe as the head of any commit
tee on public information when Mr..
Creel. Notwithstanding his fine per-
sonality and close personal friend
ship for the President and sympathy
with the Wilson ideas, has lost the
confidence of the American press,
and thereby the people.
Third, the friends of Mr.. Wilson
! / elieve a grave mistake was made
in announcing the dispatch Of Mr..
Creel to Europe at the same time
that Postmaster General Burleson
was permitted to take ove- control
of the Atlantic cables. These things
have been denounced as colossal
blunders," not merely by Republicans,
but by Mr.. Wilson's most loyal
friends, who mean nothing personal
| by it either.
Fourth, they believe that Mr.. Will
sons Cabinet is superannuated, and
in a rut. and that the resignation Of
William Gibbs McAdoo deprives the
Administration of one of its most eff
i flcient public servants, and that the
President should have never per-
n:itted him to resign until after re-
construction was well under way, or
at least Mr.. Wilson had returned
from Europe.
Fifth, they consider that Southern
domination in Congress and else
cratic party's chances to regain the
confidence Of Western celebrates.
Sixth, they are deeply disap-
pointed that Mr.. Wilson himself
should have kept himself aloof from
men from various states, who have
sought to aid him in the past, and
that he should have depended SO
much on his own judgment or the
advice Of small group OF pro-
yincially minded advisers.
| Seventh. and most important of
| all there is a deep-rooted feeling
| that Mr.. Wilson has not taken ac-
count of the resentment of the
American people for his failure to
take into his councils on foreign
affairs. Republicans as well as
| vNAy,,oaro{e <,,,,1 l,o%
are some Republicans who are not
| in sympathy with Mr.. Wilson'S ideas,
but many Republicans would be, if
taken into the Presidents conf
dence.
| Close friends of the President be-
lieve it is his duty, at least, to call
into conference Republicans of all
shades Of opinion and lay before
them the program he intends to pur-
sue at the peace conference.
The last suggestion probably will
not please the President. but the
time is past when friends of Mr.
| Wilson out Of mere respect for his
| likes and dislikes, can afford to re-
main silent. One of the most Curl
Gus features of the situation is that
some of the men with whom l have
talked do not feel that they can
very well tell Mr. Wilson the truth.
Some of them would be willing to
tell him the truth about his loss
OF prestige in this country if he only
gave them audience. Others would
Just as soon write him their views,
and some have done so. But the
ma iority of President Wilson'S
friends are talking among them
selves of the necessity of bringing
forcibly to Mr.. Wilson's attention
that he is drifting away from the
original precepts of openness and
managing the Government in a per-
scnal and private way which does
not square with his professions of
democracy.
| Perhaps the most severe criticism
ieard is OF Mr.. Wilson'S decision to
go to Europe at this critical time.
Nobody begrudges the President
great part in the settlement of the
peace of the world. nor his remark
able influence in bringing victory to
the Allies; but the feeling of the
men who are fond of the President
and who>haye the courage to tell cor
respondents how they feel is that he
treated the American people with in
difference when he failed in his first
announcement to tell tho exact pur-
pose Of his journey and the provision
he planned to make for the transact
ton of public business in his alb
scnce.