Speaking to me one day about the conduct of the war, shortly after the delivery of his war message, he said: "We must not in our conduct of this war repeat the scandals of the Civil and the Spanish-American wars. The politics of generals and admirals must be tabooed. We must find the best trained minds that we can get and we must back them up at every turn. Our policy must be 'the best man for every job,' regardless of his political affiliations. This must be the only test, for, after all, we are the trustees of the boys whose lives will be spent in this enterprise of war." This was not an easy policy to pursue. Every kind of harassing demand came from Democratic senators and representatives to induce the President to recognize political considerations in the conduct of the war, the argument being that after all the responsibility for its conduct resting with the Democrats, the administration of the war ought to be under Democratic tutelage throughout. But the President was firm—in his resolve to see the war through to the end without political considerations. The political predilections of generals, admirals, and war workers of every kind was ignored. Mr. Creel by furnishing a list of Republicans appointed by the President to conspicuous office has disproved the charge against the President of niggard partisanship. Although the President would not tolerate a coalition cabinet, he gave to Republicans all manner of opportunities to share in the conduct and the credit of the war. I quote from Mr. Creel:     The search for "the best man for the place" was instituted without     regard to party, faction, blood strain, or creed, and the result was a     composite organization in which Democrats, Republicans, and     Independents worked side by side, partisanship forgotten and service     the one consideration.     It stood recognized as a matter of course that the soldier selected to     command our forces in France might well develop into a presidential     possibility, yet this high place was given without question to Gen.     John J. Pershing, a life-long Republican and the son-in-law of Senator     Warren, one of the masters of the Republican machine. Admiral William S. Sims, a vociferous Republican, was sent to English waters in high command, and while Secretary Daniels was warned at the time that Sims's partisanship was of the kind that would not recognize the obligations of loyalty or patriotism, he waved the objection aside out of his belief that Sims was "the best man for the job".     For the head of the Aircraft Board, with its task of launching     America's great aviation programme, Mr. Howard E. Coffin, a     Republican, was selected and at his right hand Mr. Coffin placed Col.     Edward A. Deeds, also a Republican of vigour and regularity.