Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-08
4 Bclligcrent Pacifist

NEWTON d. BAKER, Secretary OF War for
the past three years, has been under
direct aud incessant fire during most Of that
period He has been assailed by Republt-
cans and he has been assailed by men in his
own party. Ho has been sneered at, abused
and browbeaten. 1t has become sort OF
habit on the part of certain leaders in Con-
gress to train their guns, as often as op-
portunity offered, upon the man who has
administered the affairs of the War De-
partment since the retirement of LindIey
NJ. Garrison.
Mr.. Baker has been forbearing. He has
been exceedingly patient He has felt that
foreign war and disagreeable domestic war
at the same time. He has felt that the de-
feat Of Germany was more important to the
nation than the vanquiShmept of his de-
tractors in Congress or the personal yindi-
cation OF Mr.. Baker, the head of the War
Department. With that unusual point OF
view. he devoted himself unremittipEly to
the prosecution OF the war against Ameri-
cas- foreign enemies leaving his own enc
mics at home a clear field and an uncon-
tested battle ground. That may have been
wisdom on his part, or it may have been
merely eccentricity.
The war against the central powers has
been won. 1t won by American SOL
diers, 100000 OF whom were seut over
months ahead Of the supreme war councils
own schedule There is now no foreign
enemy to engage the undivided attention OF
Newton ID. Baker, and he has found leisure
and abundant inclination to deal in his own
fashion with tho supcr-critics who have
bounded him. who have barked and snapped
at his heels and sought to convince tho
country that he was and is a failure and
that the War Department ceased TO func-
ton during his regime.
It is a matter Of supreme satisfaction
TO his friends and his admirers to find this
patient man aroused. 1t pleases them to
find in him the same sort OF fighting spirit,
where his own fortunes and reputation are
concerned, that they found when it was
question: Of defeating Germany. They are
delighted that he knows how to strike back;
that he knows how to meet assault with as
sault and that he wears no gloves when it
is time for him to hit.
Senator Chamberlain, Of Oregon, late
chairman Of the Senate Military Affairs Com
nittec, has been the irst to feel the Baker
steel. That gentleman. who has been the
most uncompromisng pursuer Of the Sec
rotary Of War, conceived tho impression that
the executive official was timid that he had
no fight in him. that he confirmed
pacifst and it was perfectly safe to pillory
Mr.. Baker whenever the weather seemed fair
or the Senate gallery seemed to hold re-
spectacle audience. And the Senator has
gone along during the three years past with
his Nominations, never apparently anticipat-
ing a rejoinder.
But the worm has turned. Mr.. Baker is
d pacilist no longer. He is militant to the
core. and his brief but stnging answer to
the Cham berlain speech delivered down in
mississippi is the first fash from his ar
tillcry Senator Chamberlain now knows
that he has a real antagonist, and the re-
maindcr of the Baker critics will discover
the same thing if they arc still inclined to
controversy. Beware Of tho man who is slow
TO anger! No better advice was ever given