The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-26

No human leadership In infaliihie.
The greatest statesm en-, generals, and
preachers the world has ever known
have made mistakes In their estimates
OF conditions. of movements, and of
men. Our confidence in our leaders
Is based on our estimate OF their sin
cere devotion to the cause. and of
their wisdom in handling difficult sit
uations- II we doubt their sincerity
of purpose then we cannot give them
whole-hearted support But IL we are
convinced of their sincerity and also
OF their conservation to their work,
then we will give them our support,
until 1t Is evident that they are not
equal to the handling OF the grave
questions which confront them.
| But before we are qualified to pass
! Judgment upon them, we must know
the facts which they knew and upon
which they based their decisions. To
raise our voices in criticism and de-
nunciation OF an action simply be-
cause we cannot see the reason for II,
dence In our leaders. which is GER
| tRinly to be deplored, and generally
! to be condemned.
! The general in charge Of the army
has information which the private
soldier cannot have, He knows the
position OF the various divisions. the
nearness OF retnforcements, the sup
! ply OF munitions and provisions on
hand, the number OF the opposing
forces, and other facts upon which to
base his decision as to the disposi-
ton of his troops. the time to charge
and the time to withdraw. If the
colonies and the captains and the prt-
Yates are to pass Judgment upon ev-
Ar, nFiAv M fhA s~nNaraI uUh ~
tails hardship. simply because they do
mot know the reasons for the order,
and II they are to engage In criticism.
protests and denunciations of the gem
eial. then there is an end TO all dis
ctpline and efficiency, and the power
of the army as a lighting force Is
estroyed. If the captains and colo
nels in the army should adopt such an
attitude and excite distrust and mu-
tiny among the rank and file, they
would be speedily relieved of their
commands, and might be even more
severely punished.
All of our people evidently have not
yet realized that our country is at war.
and that war cannot be carried on
without disturbing the ordinary rou-
tine Of business and society, and that
successful prosecution of the war re-
quires 81 subordination of mems habits,
pleasures, comfort and business, to
the one great purpose--to win the
war. and to win the war as quickly
as possible.
Nothing, therefore, Is more essen
tial than a loyal. undivided support
OF our leaders, until II is absolutely
certain that our leaders are not wor-
thy of our support, either because of
their disloyalty. or because of their
inCon petenCy An unexpected test of
confidence and of loyalty was made
on Thursday of last week, when the
fuel administrator iseued his order
for I'VE days consecutively and later
for every Monday for several weeks.
OF until the backbone of winter had
been broken.
The order was drastic and ii was In
sense unexpected. Yet those who
were posted on conditions knew that
for lack OF coal a great and ever In
creasing number of ships was being
held In our harbors, and that there
fore supplies which were Imperative
ly demanded in Europe were being
delayed, and that our armies as we'll
as the armies of our allies would suf-
fer for lack OF these things They
also knew that for nearly three weeks
continuously SHOWS and blizzard
weather had hampered, dsorganized
and In some sections blocked trans
portation Of coal. food and army sup
plies. But the average man knew only
what he saw about him and what he
read IN the newspapers. The presi-
dent, the railroad administrator, Mr.
McAdoo, and the fuel administrator,
Dir. GARFIELD. had reports of condi-