Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-03
Real Breakdown Came at
Paris as Result of Terrific
Strain in Fight for League
of Nations
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1924. by the George H. Doran
company in the United states, Canada, South
America. World publication rights reserved
by Current News Features, Incorporated.)
CHAPTER NXVIII
n UTWARDLY politics. was lad
journed," to use Mr.. Wilson'S
own words, during the period
beginning with the declaration of
war on April T, 1917, and the armis-
tice November II, 1918, but the at
mosphere inside Washington was
hardly less partisan than in peace
times. The country as a whole knew
very little of the partisan warfare
going on at the national capital.
Whether the course of the president
provoked his opponents to a display
of partisanship or whether thew. on
the other hand, were unable to per
NIT a Democratic president to carry
the laurels of n war in which Re-
publicans rs we'll as Democrats were
fighting, it is unnecessary and flu
tile to discuss.
The fact remains that Woodrow
Wilson was conscious of the parti-
san ship on Capitol Hill and resented
bitterly the efforts made to furnish
him with q war cabinet. lie was
convinced that this was not con-
structive but a destructive move.
His theory was that most of the big
interests which had been selling ma
terials to the allies before the United
States entered the war sought a
means of safeguarding their business
by getting their own personnel into
bureaus. There never
was any real intention on Mr.. Will
sons part to ignore the business in
terests of the country but in the
prosecution of the war he had two
fundamental ideas. One was that
men who had been the mainstay of
the American army knew more than
civilians did about military matters,
while the practical men, in the
United States navy knew more than
any outsider about the conduct of
the fleet.
President Wilson gave a free hand
to General PershinG-he never re-
buEed him or withheld support. To
the credit of Newton d. Baker, sec
/
that he backed up General Pcrshing
on every side.
Tripped by Red Tape
But the war was not merely a com
bat of armies and navies, it was
of materials. Here Mr.. Will
son floundered about expecting the
business interests of the country to
render the support to the officially
accredited body known as the Coun-
Gil of National Defense. In these adj
Visory bodies, strangely enough, the
first breakdown occurred. The bust
ness men could hardly be blamed.
They encountered in Washington a
mesh of red tape and antiquated
regulations. Many of them accept
ed position in the army and navy
only to find the question of discipline
and rank so VeXatiOus that it stiffled
business initiative and repressed en-
terpriSe.
President Wilson's shrewd maneu-
yer in answering the cries for a war
cabinet by demanding of congress
tie legal power to consolidate bu-
raaus and cut red tape right and
left was one of the most important
factors in the efficient mobilization
of Americas resources. The selection
Of Bernard NJ. Baruch, of New York,
to be chairman of the war industries
board marked the beginning of an
era of true coordination. Vance Nc
COrmlck was put in charge of the
war trade board which dealt with
the embargo and administration of
the trading and the enemy act DR..
Harry a. Garfield a former col
league of President Wilson at Prince
ton, was placed in charge of the fuel
administered ten. Herbert Hoover won
cause of the splendid work he had
done on the American Commission
foc the Relief of Belgium.
AS one looks over the list of men
whom Mr.. Wilson put into positions
of responsibility during the war
there is no escaping the impression
that he followed not The rule of
purity but the rule of personal trust
ana personal loyalty. Early in the
conflict there was talk of a coalition
cabinet similar to that which had
been established in Great Britain
and in other parliamentary govern.
ments abroad. But Mr. Wilson would
not listen to it, He said that coalition
cabinets meant constant wrangling
and political friction. Throughout
the government, however, many Re
publ cans were appointed to positions
of importance and in general way
no distinction as to party was made.
The presidents conception of his
own responsibility led him to select
only those whom he knew PERSONAL
ly. With him loyalty counted for
more than reputed executive ability.
Mr.. Wilson always had a suspicion
of the expert per Sc. The super eff
Clent business man who might be
proposed a the most capable man
to administer a certain job might be
all that was claimed but Woodrow
Wilson was a type Of man who did
not like to he disturbed by thoughts
that men in whom he had repOsed
large powers might not be loyal to
him. And by loyal to him was meant
sjr,ply i willingness to carry out the
iteals and policies in public office
which President Wilson had set as
his standard.
Free Hand to Officers
1t is interesting to note. however,
that the president did not permit this
lire OF l easOning to interfere in any
way with the actual administration