The Delta independent., 1920-10-22

indicated an acquiescence in this view. He
long cherished the hope Of peace BY media
tion, and the effect of his notes ON the
German and Austrian peoples to unseat
their military parties and end the war.
While calling for a draft law and ap-
proving 1t, he rejected General Crow
der's urgent advice to increase the scope
of its operation early in 1918 to meet
the then evident need, only to come to 1t
three months later. These are instances.
among many of hesitation and the lack of
that inspiring leadership which would have
secured better preparation in quicker time.
That an enormous task was performed In
the preparation of four million men to
fight and in the transfer across the seas
of half of them to strike the needed and
final blow. is a proof of Americas courage.
energy, organizing ability. and the wonder
full patriotism and adaptability to any
emergency of her people and her youth.
But never in the whole progress of strik-
ing events did feel that all of this i'm
mense work which was being done was due
to the personal initiative and propelling
force of the Executive. II 1t had been. 1t
would have been Mr.. Wilson's victory. Had
the people thought it was. no message Is
sued to the electorate on the eve of cleo
ton of November, 1918, when success was
evidently crowning arms, would have
defeated him in that election. victors are
acclaimed by a grateful people; but the
election of 1918 gave forth such
paean for Mr.. Wilson.
Personal Direction Of Affairs.
This same purpose to direct personally
important action of all kinds explains Mr..
Wilson's apparent Indifference to the
to fill the offices for which he chose them.
II was only necessary that they should be
loyal to him and subscribe to his views to
qualify them for any place.
The results OF this personal government
were painfully apparent. when Mr.. Wilson
was II. The Government in many ways
ceased to function: and that this
cording to his plan shown in his in
dignant dismissal OF Mr. Lansing for hav-
ing called Cabinet meetings to tide over the
embarrassment caused by the disability of
the one who was the source of all power
and he only centre of final decision.
Not only before the and during
the war but in the negotiations for the
peace. the absorbing personality of Mr.
Wilson dwarfed every other factor. He
would not brook near him any one who
cast shadow His appointecs to the COM
missions OF capital Importance were sadly
lacking in conspicuous fitness public
confidence His going abroad in person to
Paris was the breaking of all precedent.
The writer approved it quite within his
constitutional function and thought it
good thing means of educating the
President to the European situation. In so
far however. as Il seemed TO minimize the
necessity for calling men OF ability. exper-
ience and Influence into the Peace Com
mission. ii proved bad thing His conduct
in Paris in carrying on the negotiations
himself. often without consulting any OF
those whom he took with him. that they
frequently knew nothing OF criticss decisions
until announced in the public press, was of
a piece with his whole conception of proper
personal government
LAddrcss TO Eiecto ate. 1918. L
II was this first rule of his being that
prompted his famous address to the cleo
torate on tn" eve of the Congressional
election OF 1918. already alluded to- in
which. while he admitted that the Republi-
cans had been pro-war. he said that they
were anti and that in his
negotiations for peace and its consequences
he needed Democratic Congress. that
he nigh, be thu uncmharrassed spokesman.
rcbukc which the electorate administered
to him for this self-revealing message, he
proceeded II he were the unembarrassed
spokesman of all the people. and this led
to his present undoinE and to that of
the League.
The treaty making power l. intrusted TO
the initiation OF the President and the ad-
vice and consent OF two-thirds of the S-n-
ate One Ixrty is rarely in control OF the
senate by two-thirds vote. The mascrs
OF the Constitution evidently intended that
treaties should not be the subject OF mere
party differences. Therefore. and that myn-
hers OF all parties must unite TO confirm
them. One not imbucd with complete
sense Of power would have taken steps in
advance TO secure the sympathy and sup
port OF that body which by two-thrds
vote must Join with him in any treaty
which he might negotiate. He consulted as
to his purpose no senator either OF his own
party of the opposition. 1t was sug
gcstcd TO him that he take Senators Nom
bors Of the Foreign Relations Committee
with him to Paris, hut he never considered
them for = moment. The majority OF the
Senate was Republican. and he did no,
appoint representative Republican the
commission, when Mr.. Wilson returned
with the draft Of the treaty as reported
he was told by the leader OF his own por;y
in the Senate of the growing opposition TO
the treaty in that body and this was
tirmed by the Round Robin OF moro than
onc-third OF all the Senate. He dcficd all
this opposition.
When the Senate majority. eNcrsisiuc its
undoubted constitutional function. offered
the compromise Of confirming the treaty
with the Republican reservations, Mr., Will
son summarly twice rejected the after
although he and all had been advised by