Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-06
Conversion of 3 Paciflst

THERE has been nothing more remark
l able in the psychology OF public service
than the present attitude OF Newton -.
Baker, Secretary OF War, toward the pending
army reconstruction bill. The mental change
this man has undergone during the past few
years has been radical and in some respects
almost unbelievable.
1t is easy to recall that when Mr.. Baker
was brought into the Cabinet to take the
place made vacant by the resignation of
Lindley NJ. Garrison, he was pronounced
pacifist. He was opposed to an elaborate
military establishment He did not believe
that the clamor heard abroad in the land
for vigorous national defense policy repre-
scented either tho sound judgment OF tho
American people or the feeling Of the vast
majority Of the men and women who would
have to be taxed to pay for the proposed
armament. In fact MIR. Baker was called in
largely because he was known by pacifist
President to hold such views.
But the administration of Mr.. Baker,
head OF the War Department, has taught him
many things. First, he had the acute MeXi-
can problem to deal with, a problem which
called for the use Of all the available mill
ta.y power Of the country, and a problem
which served to show him how little equipped
this country to meet even so weak
enemy as n disorganized and a dcmoralzed
Mexico. Before Mexico could be put out OF
mind the great war with Germany came.
Mr.. Baker, the intimate student Of cond-
ditions we'll the civilian administrator
OF the army, realized in short order what a
mighty task lay before him and his advisers
in the arming Of America for decisive blow
against the greatest Of all military powers.
He found that an army must be built from
the very ground up. The small nucleus
which the country had foundation was
piutul in its littleness. The men were here;
the materials were here and the ability
oViS fn1 70 both 10 both md
to throw them into the balances. But it was
almost a heartbreaking thing to suffer the
delays which were necessary before civilian
army could be trained equipped and placed
in the field and before the material resources
OF the nation could be assembled and whipped
into instruments OF war.
The grim job was undertaken by resolute
men. They did not stop to weep over I'M
preparedness. They not whine over the short
sightednesS which had prevented this coun-
try from arming itself in advance They did
not waste their time in assailing each other
or Congress the pachsts. They went
straight to work to make powerful army,
and the results OF that work speak for them
selves. The army made. 1t was power
full enough to turn the tide. 1t was gallant
enough to achieve victory long before Euro
pean nlilitarists believed victory would be
possible.
Now the war is over. The country is upon
a peace OASIS. But the question OF national
defense is still to be answered The Senate
Military Affairs Committee has brought forth
q measure for the reorganization of the mill
tary esta bishnlent, the basic principle Of
which is universal military training Newton
D. Baker, the pacifst has stated publicly
that the Wadsworth bill Is the greatest piece
OF military legislation the country has ever
considered. Mr.. Baker has become. there
fore, the strongest OF national defense adj
mil r;cfo =
result Of his five years study of national