Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-17
THE ANSWER

Il have no answer ready" President Viii
son said in his address to congress when he
asked what shall be done with the railroads
whether we shall return them to private
management with modified regulation by
law or whether they shall be operated and
perhaps owed by the government.
But if he had been disposed to seek an
answer at that time he could have found it
Or the basis for tin this same address
OF his, when he spoke of our wonderful
army; OF ''the mettle and quality of the Off
GERS and men we sent over and of the sailors
who kept the seas, and the spirit OF the ma
ton that stood behind them
No soldiers, or sailors, he declared, ever
proved themselves more quickly ready for
the test of battle or acquitted themselves
with more splendid courage and achieve
ment when put to the test. Those of US
who played some part in directing the great
processes by which the war was pushed ir-
resistibly forward to the final triumph may
now forget all that and delight our thoughts
with the story of what our men did. Their
officers understood the grim and exacting
task they had undertaken and performed
with audacity, efficiency and unhesitating
courage that touch the stor.- of convoy and
battle with imperishable dist 1ction at ev-
cry turn. whether the enterprise were great
or small-from their chiefs, Pershing and
Sims, down to the youn est lieutenant; and
their men were worthy of them-such men
as hardly need to be commanded, and go to
their terrible adventure blithely and with the
quick intelligence of those who know just
what it is they would accomplish. I am
proud to be the fellow-countrymar of men
of such stuff and valor.
1t is the same spirit of self-reliant and
always adequate individuals. which trans
formed the American raw recruits into I'M
hna oh hot IriII nlN hn oil
road problem. The energy, resourcefulness
and efficiency of the American individual
will work out that problem far better than
any bureaucratic machinery can do it.
This quality of individualism has been
especially marked by foreign observers of
our army in Europe. Otto H. Kahn in re-
cent address to the American Bankers as
ISOLATION dwelt upon it as what impressed
him most in his tour abroad last summer
He saw our boys in their crowded quarters
on the boat going over most of them on
the ocean for the first time. He saw them
in the ports and Wages of France. He saw
them as foresters engineers and in number
less other capacities. Il saw" he said, 1.-The
simply marvellous work at the French ports,
in our huge camps and bases, and along our
lines OF communication which these men
had accomplished and yere accomplishing
with bigness of vision. boldness of plan
ming, directness of attack, a perfection of
execution and a courageous assumption of
responsibility, which would have done credit
to renowned captains of industry.
Everywhere l found, amongst officers as
we'll as amongst men. the same simple and
transformations, yet steel-clad determination
to hold life cheap for the honor and glory
and safety of America. Everywhere the
same eager and tireless exertion and keen.
qucll-witted adaptabilty. Everywhere the
same modest and soldierly bearing, the same
accomplishing endurance under hardships
and diScOmfortS, the same CONTEMPT for dar-
ger Everywhere the same note of splendid
courage moral and physical, of willing dis
cipline and service. OF bouyant good nature
md hrrnc~ Of clor1 md IEir.1I-- 49, -