New-York tribune., 1918-02-08
Tardy NeuS

WHEN II UlAu SO OlSCrlmlnAClHR ana QlS-
tinguished.a as Senator Borah comes to New
York for the occasion to say in public that
President Wilson is an Incompatible lead
er, that the war achievements Of the gov
ernment have been wonderful and that
captious criticism ought to be discouraged,
that is news, thinks "The New York
World" which metropolitan newspapers
might find worthy of respectful attention.
From there "'The World" goes on to say:
Excepting "The World" and 1.-THE Times"
however, the New York press, featuring
Senator Hitchcock's unsupported repetitions
Of German sneers at our military activities,
was hardly conscious Of Senator Borah's
presence.
In three lines "The Sun" said he made a
plea for Americanism as against interna-
tlonalism. Using few more words, The
Tribune conveyed the samc idea without
hint of the speakers Endorsement Of the
President and the conduct Of the war. 1.-THE
Herald" managed to say in seven lines that
the Senator characterized the war work of
the Administration as marvellous, while the
American" in ten lines, quoted him to the
effect that, although the government had
made some mistakes, they were not irrep-
arabic.
Our answer to this is that "The World"
is right. The Tribune is sorry and takes
leave here to print those salient parts of
Senator Borah's speech which ought to
have been printed in its news columns last
Tuesday morning.
Senator William E. Borah, of Oregon.
on February i spoke at the dinner of tho
Far Western Travellers Association IN
part as folloaUs.
"Much has been said tonight regarding
criticism and investigation. 1t is quite true
that some Investigations have been made,
and have tried in the line Of my official
duty to keep in touch with every angle of
those Investigations. I do not think that
will be charged with being a prejudiced
witness in favor Of the Administration at
Washington, yet must say that in my opin-
ion it is mistake to say that America has
broken down in this war.
"The United States for more than ono
hundred years has been q peace-lovng
nation. 1t never had reason to expect that
it would be drawn into war such as Is the
one upon the winning of which we are now
engaged. Yet by the invasion of our just
right and through the brutality Of for
elgn Toe it became necessary that this
peace-loving people of ours should be
transformed into a vast fighting machine
We had to accomplish the tram sformation
IN very few months. And it was task
so great that it was impossible to do it
without making some mistakes. And mis-
takes were made but do not consider them
fundamental, nor do I consider them irrep-
arablt And whatever the mistakes which
may have occurred, l sure that in the
end the Congress and the Administration
will get together and will correct them.
- To me the wonder has been that greater
and more fundamental mistakes have not
been made. 1t had been nv intention to
say some things regarding these mistakes
which | shall now leave unsaid l had in
tended to make these remarks had Senator
Chamberlain been present. And here, and
before proceed further, l want to say that
IN all America there is no more high minded
Senator or more patriotic American than
George E. Chamberlain, of Oregon.
In my judgment it will be but few
days when everything that has happened in
the way of captious criticism will have dis
appeared and we shall all be united in
common purpose which will be the organi-
Zation of our great war machine on a scale
so efficient that Germany will see and real
ize once and for all that with America in
she cannot win this war.
ut is extremely important that Germany
snail De MADE to know that we of America
are united people in this matter. Our
soldiers in Europe standing shoulder
to shoulder, and it should be the duty of
those of us who are left at home to present
a front just unbroken to the enemy
agree with those who have said that there
is to-day IN America no man who is the
equal of the President of the United States
a moral leader.
81 believe that in this emergency the Ad-
ministration at Washington has done a
great work in getting ready for this war.
In my humble judgment, the Administration
has performed marvellous task in so far
as it has progressed toward preparation
for the struggle that is upon u.s."
Uncalled For and Objectionable