Evening star., 1942-02-27

The foregoing might also be sup
plemented with the statement that
the critics, If they are conscientious,
must feel constantly that in q
democracy there is always solemn
pact Of truth between the millions
of inarticulate persons who depend
on them for their information and
those who endeavor to tell them the
truth as they see it at first hand,
whether it is in the battle lines or
ut the seat of Government itself.
There is, as a rule, nothing per-
sonal about criticism of Govern
ment in the press. Most critics do
not consult their personal likes or
dislikes and, as for ease and the
line Of least resistance, it would be
far easier to remain passive and
acquiescent than to criticize. As
Walter Lippman, an outstanding lib
eral, wrote the other day, 'It is a
dtsagreeable business" to point out
weaknesses in Government. He
then declared that it has taken
months to get the President to
delegate authority and to do cer-
tain simple things that should
have been done long ago. He
added that "the bottleneck of bot
tlenecks Is In the White House
itself-in the inertia and compla-
cency Of Mr.. Roosevelt himself when
1t Is a question of divesting himself
Of authority and Of detaching him
self from his friends who are not
equal to their task"
Stands by His Cabinet.
Mr.. Lippman significantly points
out that whereas Prime Minister
Churchill is not irremovable from
oflce, he has reconstructed his gov
ernment, whereas Mr.. Roosevelt,
who cannot be removed, has failed
to re-organize his Cabinet to meet
the demands of the war.
The criticism Of an administra-
ton either has a beneficial purpose
in preventing further defeats or it |
"tust stirs up disunity." Many peo-
pie think that discussion of mis-
takes means merely a stimulus to |
disunity. What they do not realize
is that criticism of the mistakes
made before and at Pearl Harbor
did more to stir up sense Of re-
sponsibility in Government than If
truth had been suppressed.
What almost everybody who is
fair about 1t knows is that Mr..
Roosevelt is neither by tempera-
ment nor experience good admin
istrator. He is reported to have
once admitted this himself. Nor is
the lack of this kind of ability a
reflection on him. For his genius
lies In other fields of leadership.
Yet 1t Is all the more essential that
he recognize his own weaknesses
and bow to them rather than let
matters Of pride or sensitiveness
about his friends become the criter-
ion Of inaction.
One single days events-the hap
penings of last December 7-do not
suddenly transform a President
from poor to a good administrator.
Rather do such serious events all
the more make necessary a revi-
sion and reorganization that will
put the ablest men into key posi-
tions-the ablest men irrespective
Of party and irrespective of past
grudges. This Is true greatness.
Danger Of Defeat.
The responsibility of the critic
Is to point out the errors till cor
rection Is made. The aid and COM
fort that can be given the enemy
by sheer incompetence or neglect
in governmental ONCE is far great
er than can be given by scattered
criticism in the press. The fathers
and mothers Of the 2,340 boys who
died at Pearl Harbor will bear their
grief far better If they can feel sure
that other American boys are not
going to be sacrificed by similar
mistakes. And until the deadwood
Is removed from top places in the
Army and Navy, until merit and
efficiency count more than personal
favoritism or political pull, and until
the politicians stop coddling the
farm and labor groups and forget
their own political fortunes and
concentrate on winning the war, the
danger of disasters and defeats will
not be diminished.
This is indeed a time for solemnity
and discretion and a sense of