South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-03
COLLIER s EDITOR
SPEAKS HERE
Mark L. Sullivan Delivers In
tereSting Talk on War
time Washington.

Mark l.. Sullivan, editor of Col
her's weekly, and one of the best
known journalists in the country. de-
livered the final address in the lee
tuTe course which the History club
of the high school arranged on its
winter program. AS a fitting cere-
mony for the closing Of the series.
the class presented to the school a
beautiful service flag honoring the
members of the student body and
faculty now in service. The speech
was preceded by piano selections by
Prof. Frank Reese and America"
and The Battle Hymn Of the Re-
public" by the audience.
Washington i'm War Time
Mr.. Sullivan's subject was Wash
ington in War Time" and he drew
graphic picture of the atmosphere
which the recent war activities has
thrown over the nations first city.
That the people of the west are less
impressed by the seriousness and
imminence of the war than those of
the east was the statement of the
speaker who explained that this is
undoubtedly due to the fact that the
west is remote from the scene Of
actual war preparations.
Answering the criticism of the
government and especially Of the
war department by various hecklers
and newspapers of the government,
Mr.. Sullivan made short work of the
reports that the officials in charge
Of he e
down on the job. He showed where
a certain amount Of delay is un-
avoidable and declared that a really
stupendous amount has been done
toward fitting our army for active
service. Especially in the matter IF
our airplane preparation is the COM
plant unfounded and totally unwar-
ranted. the delay being adequately
explained in the effort of the gov
eminent 10 perfect machine
against which German skill will be
powerless, a project which has neces-
sarily consumed considerable time.
Need Is Ships.
The crying need of the present. ac-
cording to Mr.. Sullivan. is for ships,
of our own forces in France and
Belgium, but the sustenance and
support OF the allied countries raw
ished and depleted by four years
Of war. depend. We must furnish
more and more ships, the speaker
stated, If the cause Of democracy is
to be won and German barbarism
defeated.
Giving his audience an intimate
picture OF Pres't Wilson during the
stress and strain of war. Mr. Sulli-
van took to task the critics who
complain that the president gives
too little time to those seeking an
audience with him. That he must
of necessity guard against the
sources which would naturally drain
his strength and weaken him for the
really laboricus tasks before him, the
speaker offered as reasonable ex-
Cuse for the refusal OF the president
to comply with the demands made
upon him. The utmost care must
he exercised by the executive to con-
serve his energies and protect his
not too robust health for the strain
or MS once.
Senate Not Antagonistic.
That the attitude Of the senate and
congress toward the president and
his body of assistants is not really
as bitter and antagonistic as the
newspapers often indicate. was the
statement of the speake- Much Of
the criticism has come from demo-
Gratis as we'll as republicans and as
in most part, harmless and provoked
by a genuine desire TO aid Pres't
Wilson in his duties and problems
as the spokesman for democracy.
Following his speech proper. Nc.
Sullivan answered informally many
questions from the audience, and
succeeded in settling a number Of
perplexing problems. He stated as
a matter Of conjecture when ask his
opinion regarding the duration of
the war. that in all probabilities It
would be continued indefinitely #
it's analogy with the Napoleonic