THE BEE: OMAHA, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1921.
Great Civilians Shouldered Heavy .
Responsibilities and Endured Bitter
. '1 Criticism to Help Win the World War
CtrtHui imrtonalillM f lia mtr In our own country Swapt man front print lifa into rlaeaa
of praminanoa and mpoiiubilitr EilimtiM of mm wbo tompo1 lit io-cilld wir cabiaat
Hoorw fift for ptnututa pubUcitj trfiald "D a fool ordart"
By JOSEPHUS DANIELS.
For mtr Stenttry at In Nary I9IJ to 1)21.
Corvrltht. 1121. kv John F. 01 II. Coarrliht ky Natlaaal Nawiaaaar irvle. Caayrlaht In firaat
.Britain, Cant an hrauahou turaM. All rlahta imnH, lacludlaa traatlitlaa Ian fartfia
' taaiuaaai Inclgalna tha Seaatlaavlia. Uaautharlia rtarlatlai far tay avraaaa fartla'aaa.
The, war was too big to permit any man to become its overshadowing
figure. On the other hand, its bijjness swept men, hitherto but little
known to the multitude of their fellows, into places of prominence and
tremendous responsibility.
"Men were caught up cut of private life, from commercial, industrial
and professional vocations, and practically conscripted by national need
for public service.
Some of these men, holding offices which had sought them out and
constrained them to assume their burdens, presently found themselves
the objects of criticism and abuse on the part of factions of the people
and the press. It was ungenerous to men who were giving themselves
with "an utter devotion to their country; but they took it bravely and
patiently and in good humor, and went on with their jobs, content to let
events vindicate them, as events did.
Tli(! nifm in rtiare n( tht Tnnet'J?
important special activities of the
war' trade and war industries boards,
the shipping board, the food and
fuel administrations, and. alien prop
erty custodian formed, with the
secretaries of war, navy and treas
ury, a sorj of special council, which
met frequently with the president
and which was, though improperly,
called by many newspapers the war
cabinet. An indefatigable member
of it was William G. McAdoo, who,
as secretary of the treasury, struck
the rock of credit and revenue and
made abundant money gush forth to
meet, the needs of our own mobiliza
tion and the operations of our allies.
Praise for McAdoo and Baker.
His record will for all time make
him a figure ranking second to not
one of the great men who preceded
him in that great office. Hamilton
and Gallatin andlall the famous sec
retaries of the treasury solved im
portant financial problems, but, in
., . .a
me magnitude ot tne tasK, not one
of them had such world financing to
carry out as Mr. McAdoo accom
plished so brilliantly.
But no man in that war council
w ill grow so much in the perspective
cf history as Newton D. Baker, sec
retary of war. I was in intimate
daily association with him. I knew
his large grasp of the problems with
which we had to deal and his whole
hearted devotion to duty. I could
appreciate his broad vision and his
scrupulous .sense of justice.
His task was far greater than that
of Stanton, but he showed no less
ability than Stanton in discharging
it, ana witn tne great aDinty went
a charity, kindness and courtesy,
which won him the esteem and con
fidence of all his colleagues,
v My most happy recollection of
those crucial days is my intimate as
sociation with Newton D. Baker. He
does not know what playing to tha
gallery, self-seeking or pretense are..
He shouldered every so-called error
of others in the field and department,,
and, with a generous spirit, gave
support to those who were intrusted!
with important duties.
I want, in the remainder of this,
article, to write of those men, re
ferred to in my first paragraph,'
whom the war1 picked tip and put
in posts of burdensome obligation '
at least to write of such of them as
krim w I U . m m m K r o -f lit
"war cabinet."
"Barney" Baruch Leading Figure
The story of the war industries
board has been told, happily, so that
the man who will write the real his
tory of the war (he may- not yet,
have put his pen to paper) can grasp
the magnitude of the mobilization off
industries tinder the able direction of
its head. Bernard M. Baruch. He
had made his fortune in Wall street,
buying stocks when they were low
and selling them when they were
high-'-the secret of success in that,
center of making and. losiflg for-'
tunes in a day.
There was some distrust in Wash
ington of the idea of putting "a Wall!
street speculator" in charge of this,
giant job when the president first!
asked Mr. Baruch to undertake the
direction of the war industries board.'
But as his grasp and greatness, his 4
industry and patience, his forgetful
ness of his own interests were
merged into his passion for public
service, the feeling of doubt gave
way to one of admiration, confidence
and respect. As a result "Barney"
Baruch emerged from the war as one
of its leading figures, and he added
to his reputation by the wisdom he
displayed at the peace conference, i
When I was in Paris, he and Vance
McCormick were troubled because
they could not bring their financial
. associates of the allied nations to see'
that prosperity and stability would
not come to the world until the
amount Germany was to pay was
definitely fixed. The chaos and dis
tress which followed the failure to
adopt the 'policy proposed by Mr.
Baruch testify to his wise foresight.
V
Hoover, World's Aknoner.
"Food will win the war," was a
sound slogan which Herbert Hoover,
head of the food administration, car
ried into every home in America.
The president called him to this duty
' after he had made, an international
reputation as the world's almoner in
Belgium. At his behest we quit eat
ing flour bread, we ate pork so that
beef and mutton could go to our sol
di:rs and allies, and Hoover fur
nished the scant but sufficient menu
for every breakfast and dinner' table
in America. There was no law be
hind this self-denial of 110.000,000
people. The president issued a re-
niiet V ' nAnlf f f
Hoover's lead, and they did it in' de
nying what their appetites craved.
This was the severest test, and the
Americans met it.
Mr. Hoover is different from all
other almoners I have known. What
sentiment he has he suppresses. In
executing a policy of help for starv
ing people he is so businesslike that
. someone said he was "as hard as
:i . i
uaus. .Alter tne war ne continuca
his able leadership , in saving the
starving in Austria and in the Bal
kans, and naval officers and enlisted
men kept open the lines of communi
cation and gave such co-operation
that Mr. Hoover told me when I was
in Paris that he could not have car
ried on without the navy.
What is the secret of Mr. Hoover?
Practically nobody, speaking broad
ly, knew him personally when he
cam to Washington. He is quiet
and rather silent except when some
thing that he is deeply interested in
makes him talk freely. He writes
a-speech of -convincing power,-but
ne nas no eloquence, i ne secret is
that he is an engineer and practices
his trade, or rather profession, in
whatever he undertakes. Only the
one thing he is doing interests him,
and he has a genius for exciting the
admiration and devotion of his coworkers.-
He always outworks every
body about him, and always was
evolving new plans for his work. Mr.
Hoover showed a talent for publicity
in furthering his undertakings which
no man of this generation except
Theodore Roosevelt has approached.
New Standard in Shipbuilding
T he Germans despised American
ability to build ships and to send
over men, munitions and supplies.
With as shipbuilding had so long
been neglected it was no longer a
trade, but a craft. In 1914 the presi
dent directed the secretary of the
treasury, the secretary of the navy
and the secretary of commerce to
draft a bill to restore to America a
merchant marine. It was filibustered
to death in the senate, later revived,
and passed with emasculations which
halted its quick action and large
service before we entered the war.
Did You
New Telephone Directory
A new telephone directory has been
Did You Receive Yours?
If not, please call
DO uglas 2765
and ask for
the Directory Department
he new directory contains more than
2v,000 changes in telephone numbers.
AT lantic numbers have replaced all former Tylei
IMA rket numbers have replaced all former South numbers.
EE nwood numbers have replaced all former Colfax numbers.
i -
J A ckson numbers have replaced SOME
..."
But without shipyards (for the navy
had contracted for 70 per cent of all
sh:pbuilding facilities before the
shipping board got its gait) what
was done by this country in build
ing merchant ships set a new stand
ard. Edwin X. Hurley, who was a
member of the war clearing house,
had succeeded in every undertaking
of his life. He is a confirmed op
timist and brought vision and faith
to what seemed an impossible task.
He and the other men who taught
us that "Ships will win the war"
worked miracles. They said he spent
money too freely, that ships cost too
much and contracts were given at
excessive prices. But Hurley got re
sults, and his spirit of co-operation
and enthusiasm and readiness to co
operate with every agency of govern
ment gave him a high place among
civilian war leaders.
Order for "Heatless Days."
Harry A. Garfield, head of the
fuel administration, another member,
earnestly believed that the saving of
coal and oil was essential to the
winning of the war. Aside from my
respect for his ability and my per
sona! attachment to him, which
ripened as the days went by. I ad
mired his courage in following his
convictions. His order of January
17, 1918, making certain days heat
less created a storm of indignation.
It was the coldest winter in the
memory of the oldest inhabitant.
Coal was scarce and the demand for
it overseas insistent. How could this
be supplied? The miners were pro
ducing every possible ton under dif
ficult conditions. The people had cut
down their allowance until they
shivered in their homes. Something
more drastic was necessary.
On the afternoon of January 16,
1918, Mr. Garfield came to my of
fice, and his tense face showed his
Get Your
Moves and installations have necessitated a large
number of other changes in telephone numbers.
' " - '
If you have an old directory, please destroy it.
Use Only the NEW Directory
Be sure every number you call is correct by looking up before
you make a call. This will assist us in serving you.
NORTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
was no usual mission. Jn a few!
minutes he explained our dire need
I of coal for ships and for overseas; he
said he had talked with Secretary
Baker and wished to know how I
felt about advising the president to
issue the "heatless" order which
Baker had approved; and to which,
after making certain that Garfield in
tended to reduce civilian consump
tion for military needs, I gave my
approval. After conference Mr.
Baker made the .engagement for the
three of us to see the president.
On our way, over to the Wh;tc
House I told Garfield that what we
would advise the president to d
would raise the most violent storm
of the w ar.
"Go Ahead," Says Wilson.
None of us had any illusions that
it would be popular. The matter
was laid before the president. He
met the drastic, proposal without
flinching. In fact, he grasped the
necessity for it sooner than had
either of us, and he told Garfield to
go alipad, saying in substance: "It is
necessary, absolutely necessary to
ward our greatest effectiveness in
the war. Nothing must stand be
tween us and the goal." Garfield is
sued the order. The storm broke.
The newspapers, or most of them,
raged the next morning. "Mr. Gar
field's stupidity" was displayed in
big type, and editorially he was
roasted over a hot coal fire.
About midnight that night, just as
I reached home, "long distance"
called me. The editor of a great
newspaper in New York was on the
other end of the telephone line. His
paper had given the president earnest
and able support in his war policies.
"Have you seen Garfield's damn
fool order about the use of coal?"
he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"What do you think of it?" he
asked.
"It is the worst order ever issued,"
was my answer.
"I am glad," he chuckled over the
telephone, "to find a cabinet officer
who agrees with me. We are going
to roast it in our paper tomorrow.
May I quote what you said?"
"Certainly," I replied, "but you
must add that I accompanied Mr.
Garfield to see the president vhsi
delivered
former Douglas numbers.
-
7 X
numbers.
2S322
he presented it for approval, and I
joined Air. Garheld in recommend
ing the policy to the president. I
thought then and think now that it
is the worst order ever issued. Only
one thing could have been worse."
"What was that?" answered my
now rather disgusted fellow editor at
the other end of the line.
"Not to have issued it," I an
swered. "Conditions are so des
perate that there is no way to save
the . situation but to carry out thai
order until the situation improves."
Vance McCormick Makes Good.
Vance McCormick, head of the
war trade board, was beloved by all
his colleagues. President Wilson's
regard for him as a man and his re
spect for his abilities is such that he
twice offered Mr. McCormick a cab
inet portfolio. Both times he de
clined. "I serve" expresses his life.
without ambition for preferment or
honor. His very soul was in the
war. His loyalty to the president
was based on kindred beliefs and
aims. Jn the war cabinet in hii
special duty, and in Paris, he. was
one of the men who always made
good, winning the hearts of his as
sociates by his frankness and their
confidence by his sound judgment.
One of the most delicate duties to
be decided was what to do with the
property of aliens. The president
would not hear to the confiscation
of private property, but it was un
derstood that their property must
not be left in the custody of enemies
of the country. It was, therefore,
decided to appoint an alien property
custodian. For that post the presi
dent selected A- Mitchell Palmer,
afterward attorney general, known
later as "the fighting Quaker." In
1913 he had declined the portfolio
of secretarv of war because of his
Quaker faith. In 1917 he was
aroused to the belief that war alone
could pave the way for permanent
peace and justice, and he enlisted
with all his soul and ability.
His knowledge 0f the law made
him a valuable and influential mem
ber of the president's clearing house
for war.
If I carry out my plan of writing,
a book on' Americas part in the
world war, the part this clearing
' --re played in giving great assist-
ance to the president Will make
leading chapter.
(Another artlelo hr formar SterfUry
Pamela will M printed tomorrow.) ,
Base Ball Pools to Go,
Police Heads Declare
B.ase ball pools are to get the ax.
PSlice Inspector Pattullo yester
day instructed all detectives and
patrolmen to arrest owners of cigar
stores operating base ball pools.
There are at least 2 places where
pools are operating, according to po
lice. '
"Until Mr, Ringer's last day in of
fice the present police administration
will stamp out all gambling and boot
legging," said Chief of Police Eber-
stem.
Medical Society Petitions
Council to Keep Dr. Edwards j
Th Omaha-Douglas County Med
ical society, in special session at
the Chamber of Commerce at noon
yesterday, unanimously endorsed Dr.
J. F. Edwards for, reappointment as
citv health commissioner.
The society voted to petition the
city council to retain him in the
position. ' City Commissioner-Elect
Henry Dunn has already announced
that he will retain Edwards.
Stereopticon Views of
Estes Park at Library
Stereopticon views of the Estes
Park trail through which 20 mem
bers of the Omaha Walking club will
travel on their outing in July, will be
shown in the South Side public
library auditorium lhursday at e
p. m. '
Deaths and Funerals,
Arfla Graham, 2S, wifa of City Dtctlve
John Graham, died at 9 yeaterday morning
at ner home, bill Hickory atreet.
Mrs. Charlos Copley, wlfo of Charles
Copley, formerly of Omaha, and sister of
Mr. M. Loftua died yesterday In May
wood, 111.
Mary J. Smyth, resident-of Omaha since
xsj;, died yesterday in tno Good Shepherd
convent. Funeral services will be held
Wednesday mornlnr at the convent. Burin I
will be In Holy Sepulcher cemetery. She
waa an aunt of John Joseph, James T.
and Alphonso Moore,
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