The Washington herald., 1918-01-26

one OF the popular paSttlmes TO
which we have never enthusiast
tically lent ourselves is the quota
tion of Woodrow Wilson's pre-serv-
ice statements about the opera
tions of government.
There are so many things upon
which the President has changed
his notions since actually enter
ing public life-and who. pray.
doesn't fall in the same category
that it wouldn't be fair to him to
hold him strictly accountable for
all utterances.
The paragraphs Col. Roosevelt
read at the Press Club. however,
may be said to be as sound now as
when they were written. The Presi-
dent has not changed, markedly,
either. with regard to them. though
he now admits that sometimes he
thinks prying solons can become too
pestiferous for their own good.
Congress quite agrees that one of
it's chief functions-a function vie
ing quite with the actual legisla-
tive function, in facts obtaining
information upon the operation of
the executive branch and diffusing
it among the people of the nation.
When this function ceased to ex-
ist. either by will of Congress or
by pressure of the executive branch,
it would be a poor day for the
people. 1t would mean simply that
their communication with the eXecu-
tive branch had been cut off. Such
a calamity would work infinite
harm upon the principle of popular
government.
Now that T. r. has come and has
seen-though we will not add.
conquered-we propose to point out
something which maybe some of his
callers have not brought to his at
tention.
In the August issue OF the Metro
politan the Colonel quite learnedly
stated that it would be impossible
for US to have over 100000 troops
in France by q certain time. And
he made other statements seeking
to disparage the ability of the War
Department to cope with the i'm
mense problem presented to it.
We are not at liberty to state
just what the figures are at this
time. Suffice to say, the figures
which T. r. gave with such alacrity
in August 1917 have been exceed
ed by a considerable margin.
SNy0Sufi a htajbvoroEp etaoin eta
We have far more troops in
France at this moment that the
Colonel said we would. We had
two months ago. and three months
ago, too.
1t would be proper for him now
to come out and admit in the same
columns in which he published his
indiscreet prediction that while he
may have valid grounds for OBJ
jecting to the War Departments
red tape-worm there can be no OBJ
lection to the number of men taken
across the water for active work
there.
II there Is to be third term race
between the present President on the
one hand and a former President on
the other hand, several men now con-
tributing their time and ardor to the
causes of either will be woefully dis
appointed.
For, to be very truthful. there are
men on both sides Of the political
fence who are looking hopefully to
the coming of the year 1920. They
think that perhaps the great honor
will be covertly or otherwise thrust in
their direction. And, of course, It.
"Oulu Uc d IuInDlo lneh
house of capds IL such an anomaly
was brought on as two great men,
each of whom has had two terms In
the White House, were to be pitted
against each other for the third term.
There is, of course, enough water
yet to pass under the bridge to COM
pletely inundate any candidacy or
many candidates.. No one can say
what time will bring. But, as poll
ticians so frequently say one to the
other, eff the election were tomor-
row." 1t certainly would be a case of
Wilson against Roosevelt.
But think IL it were-what about
Baker and McAdoo and Clark and
Burleson and Bryan?
And what about Weeks and John
son and Knox and Whitman and
Borah?
Here are ten gentlemen, we know.
who are glad that two years have
yet to fly by before the parties will
begin definitely to make their attach
ments for the Presidential campaign.
Harnessing of the water power at
Great Falls and transmission of pow
er to the Canital. for use rs heat
and light and power, would enable
other parts of the country to have
coal which we now need here for
those purposes.
There are advantages to be derived