New-York tribune., 1920-06-29
ultimately made our country the great
est creditor nation of the world.
Wartime Legislation

ultimately made our country the great
est creditor nation of the world
Wartime Legislation
"And then the great war came on.
Ultimately, by the logical steps of
necessity, our peace loving nation was
drawn into the conflict The necessary
war legislation was quickly supplied.
"a War finance Corporation was
created. War risk insurance was pro-
vided. Shipbuilding laws reestablished
Americas supremacy upon the seas.
The office of Alien Property Custodian
was created. A War Industries Board
was established. A War Trade Board
was created. Food and fuel regula-
tions were formulated. Vast loans
were successfully foated. Vocational
Council of Defense was created. In
dustry was successfully modified.
almost over night the factories Of
the patton were made part of the war
machine, and the miraculous revival of
the shipping industry filled the ocean
lanes with our transports.
"Our feet laid the North Sea mine
barrage. We sent fighting craft to
every sea and brought new courage and
inventive genius to the crucial fight
against the U-boat.
III tidAIop pOICiu6 OuI tEOOpS "
France we never lost a man in a ship
conveyed by the American navy.
Zone of the first decisions was be-
tween the volunteer system and the
selective draft. Many patriotic citizens
strongly deprecated conscription and
dreaded its possibilities. The Admin
istration, however, placed it's influence
behind the measure, secured its pas
sage and made possible the winning Of
the war.
Selection of Army officers
"Partisanship was put aside in the
selection Of General Pershing as lead
er Of our forces, and no military COM
mander in history was ever given a
freer hand or more unfaggng sup
port. The policy of selecting officers
through training camps avoided the
use of political favorites and guar
anteed competent leadership for the
youth of the land. Ten million men
were registered within three months
from the declaration of war and thirty
two camp cities, complete in every
municipal detail, were built in ninety
days.
"In France we had to construct our
depots, hospitals and ordnance bases
our barracks. In June, two months
after the declaration Of war our fight
ing men were in France; in October
Americans were on the firing line; in
scarcely more than year we had
100000 men in France, had whipped
the enemy at Beueau Wood, beaten
them back at Chateau Thierry, wipee
out the st. Mihiel salient and delivered
the terrific hammer blow at Sedar
that virtually ended the war.
Less than two years ago General
Haig, with the bluntness of a soldier
said: The British Army is fighting
with it's back to the WALL LLOYD
George was crying: 1T is a race be
tween Wilson and Hindenburg, anc
France clung like drowning man te
the Rock of Verdun. turning agonizec
eyes toward America. And America
came. We challenge the critics of the
Administration to point out how, with
in the limits Of human possibility, the
war could have been won more
promptly or with less loss of American
lives.
ut was not by mere chance that thes
things were accomplished. To readjus
the processes of peace so as to serv
the activities of war required leader
ship of unexampled skill. Petty criti
cism of minor defects and individua
officials may for time attract super
fetal attention., but the significan
things, the great outstanding fact
plead eloquently for the Democrat
cause.
"Let no one misunderstood us. Thes
great affairs we're carried forward ur
der the stimulus of American patriot
ism, supported by the courage and tn
spirit Of our people. All this is freel
and gladly acknowledged, but surel
the time has come when, because c
the calculated criticism and the pre-
= meditated calumnies Of the oppositio,
we are entitled to call attention to tn
= fact that all Of these things wer
:, u accomplished under the leadership {
/ / cratic Administration. We have r
6 apologies to make-not one. We a,
y proud of our great navy; we are prou
. OF our splendid army; we are proud {
;. - the power of our country and the maj
{ ner in which that power has been usec
= we are proud of the work that Amerie
l. has done in the world; we are proud
= the heroism of American men ar
> women; and we are proud of the il
= spired and Incompatible leadership
). Woodrow Wilson.
n Deplores Partisan Criticism
It "Has not the time come when a
r Americans, irrespective of party, shou
= begin to praise the achievements of o,
e country rather than to criticize then
IS Surely just and righteous sense
It national pride should protect US fro
= the insensate assaults of mere part
= sans. We fought q great war, for
n great cause, and we had a leadersh
e that carried America to greater heigh
j. OF honor and power and glory than 81
has ever known before in her ent
II history. If the American flag must
d lowered. it will be hauled down in
n Republican convention and not in
e Democratic convention.
g 1T is this shining record of tr
l. mendous achievement that Republics
II managers and the Chicago platfor
e seek to shame and besmirch. Vario,
y Congressional committee, which f
II want of more appropriate term a
q called smelling committees, were a
pointed for the purpose Of ascerta
Is ing whether or not there was al
r graft in the conduct of the great wa
ii Over eighty Investigations have be,
IS made, over two million dollars ha
Is been wasted, and the one result h.
20 been to prove that it was the cleane
D war ever fought int the history
ID civilization.
Through the hands Of Democrat
G. Administration there have passed mo
T. than forty billions Of dollars, a
It the finger Of scorn does not point
l. one single Democratic official in {
d America. 1t Is record never bcfo
" made by any political party in al
frxt hot Il