The Washington herald., 1910-12-15
Dickinson Fay0rs' Publicity.
Taft Is Opposed.
HOUSE SUPPORTS PRESIDENT
Efforts az Capitol to Suppress Re-
port of Secretary Disclosing State
lenses Engenders Remarkable sif-
uation-Document Held Up

IN official circles over formal report by
the Secretary of War. disclosing state
Of unpFeparedness in the national de-
lenses that is characterized as sensa-
tional. Unusual efforts have been made
by members OF the House to suppress
the contents of this report, on the
ground that it's publication would be
detrimental TO the interests OF the gov
eminent. while Secretary Dickinson and
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood. Chief OF
staff. have been willing to have the re
port given out il was said.
TO make the situation more interest
ing. President Tafts views in regard TO
the so-caned sensational report do not
coincide with those of his Cabinet ad-
wiser and Chief Of stan. and no sym
pathizes with the effort that is being
made by members OF Congress to sup
press the report.
The President does not take the con-
dition of the national defenses as seri-
ousiy as do his Cabinet adviser and Gen.
Wood. and he apparently is opposed TO
stirring the subject up before the public
Oppose Its Publication.
While Congress leaders say officially
that they are opposed to the publication
Of the report. on the ground that 1t would
place undesirable information in the
hands of other governments, the real rea-
son is that they fear a war scare rush
for appropriations. They charge privately
that the report In question was prepared
chiefly for the purpose OF creating pub
lie sentiment IN favor OF extraordinary
expenditures for the army and national
defenses.
Two reports have been prepared by the
Secretary of War. and neither has seen
the light OF day. One was prepared more
than week ago and its contents were
described as sensational by those who
read IT, Before this report was sent IN
TO the House, Representative Tawney,
chairman of the Committee on Appropri-
ations, got wind OF IL. and he went d.
rectiy 10 the White House and protested
against its being given out for publica-
ton.
Soon after MI Tawneys visit at the
White House. il was announced that the
original report by the Secretary OF War
would be substantially altered and the
modified report would be sent to the
House later.
The modified report. which is said 10
be considerably milder than the original,
was sent in to the House yesterday. and
was marked confidential" The report
was accompanied by a statement by
Gen Wood AS the rules OF the House
do not provide a practical method for
dealing with confidential documents. the
Dickinson report was made the subject
Of a conference by Speaker Cannon and
other leaders.
Returned to Dickinson.
They decided, after perusing its con-
tents, that IL should be returned to the
War Department. with the suggestion
that the portions Of the report contain
ing facts not detrimental 10 the public
interest should De returned to the
House, and that the other material In
the report, OF a confidential character,
should be sent 10 some House commit
tee
The Dickinson report was prepared in
response to a resolution passed by the
House at the last session and introduced
by Representative McLAchIan. Of Cali
fornia II called upon the Secretary OF
War for a statement as 10 the condi-
ton OF the military forces and defenses
Of the nation"
Although the contents OF the report
forwarded yesterday were closely guard
ed. it was learned that the document
points out that the country is wholly
unprepared for war; that there is a woe
full lack of men, of guns, and OF ammu-
milton; that the army is on the footing
that approximates disorganization. so far
as effectiveness and efficiency are con-
cerned; that the coast would be inn
periled II an armed foe appeared, and
other statements along the same line.
The creation Of a council of national de-
Tense is recommended.
Reasons for Propaganda.
House leaders point TO three circum-
stances in support of their contention that
a propaganda has been organized to in
duce Congress to loosen the purse strings
for the national defense. The first cir
cumstance is the Dickinson report; the
second. the appearance of Gen. Wood be-
fore the House Committee on Military
Affairs with testimony similar in tone to
that Of the report. and third. the intro
duction by Representative Hobson, OF
Alabama, of bin establishing a council
of national defense
The leaders do not charge Secretary
Dickinson, Gen. Wood. or Representative
Hobson with anything except overzeal 70
build up the national defense lin prepare
ton for trouble"
Toronto viii get gas at 70 cents Per loo feet
after January !.