South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-03

men who do not owe their election
70 such influences? The president
thinks not and ! agree with him.
The people cannot weigh too care
fully what is going on in this coun-
try and why II is going on. No mat
ter what position OF honor a man
may have held in the past his words
must be weighed with care when he
SEEKS to influence the course of our
nation in the fearful trouble it is
now in
Something from Roosevelt.
Roosevelt criticises our presiden.
because the latter
has not been willing 10 supple
ment his own self-sufficient ignor-
ance BY the counsel of those who
would gladly have counseled him
wisely, but who would not creep into
his presence as slaves"
/ measure my words when I say.
that a man. who has been honored
with the presidency OF this nation.
and who condescends. in these
troublesome times. TO use language
like this about Pres't Wilson is not
right At heart.
If the ex-president means to sug-
gest that he should have been in
yited to a seat at the counsel table
by Pres't Wilson, I remind him that
the president doubtless recalled the
fate Of Mr. Taft who believed, for
a while at least, that he could rely
upon his (Roosevelt's) counsel Mr..
Wilson doubtless believed he should
profit by the experience of Mr.. Taft.
This ex-president tells the country
that the bitter jest circulates in the
cloak room of the house: Here's our
czar-last in war. first toward
peace; long may he waver.'"
No man. right at heart. will use
these words in these troublesome
times, about an honora bic man Ike
Pres't Wilson. burdened as he is.
except to denounce them and TO de-
nounce the traitors who speak them.
I do not want to be understood
as calling in question the patriotism
Of Mr.. Roosevelt by anything I have
said. Like all good Americans he
wants to see the kaiser licked. ana
effectually licked. at the earliest day
consistent with a good job; but do
say Mr.. Roosevelt is so envious Of
the president, and so ambitious for
the future, that he has worked him
self into a frenzy Of hostility to the
administration and he is therefore
not seeing things straight and is not
allowing his better impulses to con-
troll him.
The Fourteen Propositions.
All the talk going the rounds in
opposition 10 certain OF the presi-
dents IA propositions is made with
but one object in view. and that is
TO disorganize the forces back of the
administration and persuade the
country the presidents "own self
sufficient ignorance" viii make him
an unsafe man 10 handle peace prob
lens. Has this country ever had
I president who has displayed the
/ skill. wisdom and vision IN handling
/ international questions as has our
/ president? The school children OF
7 the nation with one accord exclaim
7 No" and politicians too. know that
/ IL has not. but they no longer enjoy
I the frankness of childhood.
Too Soon for Reconstruction.
I In view OF what Pres't Wilson has
| accomplished and in handling inter
national problems up 70 date. II does
not sound well for a patriot 10 try TO
create. in the minds OF the people
| distrust in the presidents leadership
az this time. The president well
says in his appeal TO his countrymen
70 stand by him that
This is not time either FOR
divided counsel or for divided lead
erShip. Unity Of command is as
necessary now in civil action IS IL is
upon the field OF battle"
The field of battle Is vet running
red with blood ard there are many
things for us 20 consider i'm winning
a military victory that will for all
time put an end 20 kaiserism, be-
fore we take up the problems Of
reconstruct BY what the Dresi-
dent has done in the past in leading
as in war. we can form a very ac-
curate Judgment OF what we may
expect OF him in the reconstruction
period 20 follow the war. without
pausing at this time 10 discuss de-