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Show FOR A STRONGER CABINET Q RESIDENT WILSON has not yet sent the names of his cabinet appointees to the senato for confirmation. It is to be assumed that, in accordance with usage and precedent, the resignations of all his cabinet officers have been placed in his hands. Ho has entire freedom of choice. The Immi-w Immi-w nence of war lays upon him the imperative duty to consider how and where T ho may strengthen his council of advisers and executive chiefs. Because of the great part the president himself must take in the determination of policies poli-cies and the direction of the public business during war, and in view of the always present possibility that he may be incapacitated by illness, the duty to fill the chief posts by appointing men of unquestioned fitness and ability becomes one of compelling obligation. The president owes it to himself, since the success of his administration in a time of) great trial may depend upon it. He owes it to the people, for if, as now seems probable, they are to be called upon to bear the. heavy burdens and anxieties of war, there must not bo added endless alarms arising from the doubt and fear that the men at the head of affairs are unequal to their tasks and responsibilities. It is a matter of no ordinary moment at this time, for it is probable that the "United States will soon be engaged in the war. If we make war we must 4V, wage it, as Polonius advised, in such a way that the enemy will repent of the - " quarrel. But war is a business of the greatest seriousness, it demands for its direction and conduct the service of men of the first order of ability, men whose qualification may be summed up by saying that they must have the full confidence of the people. At such a time patriotism commands that the call to duty go forth to the country's great men, equally it commands them to answer the summons by acceptance. The line of party fades from view; the people are one. Men whose experience and capacity, whose names command confidence, should sit at the president's council table. We are not ready for war, we are deplorably deplor-ably unready. The country's financiers are prepared, they will respond with instant service, knowing well what they have to do. The captains ofl industry are prepared, the material resources of the country will be swiftly marshaled for war service. It is the government itself which is unprepared, yet the government gov-ernment must carry on the war. It must be with the utmost speed put in readiness for the trial, and that extraordinary work can be successfully undertaken under-taken only by extraordinary men. New. York Times. |