The Delta independent., 1920-10-22

OeSOes~Ne~Oe OOA ODASAs SSp ASSV'
| created . prosperity which made the
threatening hard times OF 1914 nothing
but a memory. and put the Democratic
Party on its feet again to fight the bat
tie Of 1916. That contest close one.
but Mr.. Wilson won 1t on the slogan most
effective in the Middle and Far West. and
among the women voters. He kept US out
of war" Yet within little more than a
month after he took office under his sec
. cond mandate, we had declared war.
But for our entering the war. Mr.. Will
sons control over his party as his second
Administration wore would have grown
weaker. This is the usual result. But the
war required both Democrats and Republi-
cans to give him arbitrary discretion in
the carrying of colossal transactions
and an amount of patronage staggering to
the imagination. He consulted but very
few. Never in the history of the Presidency
has there been such seclusion from Con-
gressional and Senatorial conference and
| association. He neither had. sought,
that information which comes by absorp-
tion through frequent contact with those
charged with the coordinate legislative
branch of the Government. When. in his
| opinion. he needed legislation to strengthen
brook refusal. The crisis made his demand
imperative. He did not tolerate argument.
He wished to hear facts inconsistent
with the theory of his conclusion. He would
have about him only those who agreed in
advance.
The Government of the United States is
| a great business organization. which cannot
be carried on by the will of man. Good
executive management requires that the
Chief shall select as his main subordinates
men in whose ability. judgment and loyal
ty he has such confidence that he can in
| trust to them all his powers in the field.
respectively assigned to them, with the sole
| limitation that. when they think they need
his counsel or guidance. they will consult
him. Unless he thus delegates his powers
they cannot be exercised efficiently and
with needed dispatch. II he holds his chief
subordinates in leash SO that they are to do
nothing important until they consult him
speedy and effective Governmental action
becomes impossible. Every important deci-
sion in which time is the essence OF utility
and accomplishment must then be delayed
until the Chief shall be consulted shall taye
an opportunity 10 ascertain the facts. and
make up his mind and decide. 1t is impos-
sible even in time OF peace. for the Chief
Executive to know enough TO decide rightly
and promptly the multitudlnous questions
arising In the Government. His heads of
departments and other principal suboriln-
Stss must have independent discretion to
decide for themselves what he ought to see
and what they must finally dispose OF with
out consulting him. In time OF war the
necessity for such a rule Of Administration
IL even more imperative.
Must Hold An the Reins"
Mr. wilson's retention OF authority was
at variance with this sound executive po-
lIcy. He must hold all the r.ins He could
not trust any one to &C; for him. The result
seen in the e1asperating delays in the
preparations for the war. in the many make
shift devices to put off the necessity for
final decision. and in the method by which
policies wenc formed. not by executive
leadership but by pressure of events and
public opinion which pushed his Admins
tration into them.
II was the American people, with their
enormous capacity for energetic action.
merely advisory committees without any
power. to assist his mediocre executive
n'ficorS. Mr.. Wilson thought he could use
the men Who had made America famous
for genius tn organization and executive
accomplishment 1t was the public pressure
arising after many failures and heart
breaking delays which brought these cap
able captains of railroads and industries
into every aon. OF Government activity. and
finally led to their securing power enough
10 do the things which had to be done. and
TO achieve the results of which Americans
arc proud. This not through
the leadership OF Mr.. Wilson, but in spite
of tho fundamentally wrong principle on
which he grudginGly delegated the powers
vested in him by the Constitution and by
the most liberal war Legislation.
rrviow OF the detailed facts will show
that many friends Of socialistic and pacifist
tendency pressed MIR. Wilson to send
any considerable force OF troops abroad.
bu, to rely ON the assistance we could give
In tn" war hy money. supplies. material and
the navy; aud his course taken in 1917
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