The Dolores star., 1916-07-07
DoinRs 1t Vaahington.

Doines 1t VashinEton.
BY Edward Heating. Congressman
from the Third Colorado District.
As a master of English Senator
Thomas of Colorado is the peer of any
man in Colorado in Congress. This
claim was never more completely sus-
Il tanned than on June q when Colorado
senior Senator replied to the criticisms
which have been directed at Josephus
Daniels of North Carolina, Secretary
of the Navy.
As rule when some member of the
American House of Lords" under
takes to deliver a prepared speech,
his colleagues quietly slips away to the
cloakrooms or seek relief in the folds
of the evening paper. Senator Thomas,
however, received the unusual compli-
ment of being permitted to addressman
attentive Senate. He had not been
speaking five minutes until the cloak
rooms were emptied and not Senator
quilted his seat in the chamber until
the Coloradoan had concluded.
1t WIS really great speech and the
Senator will render the people of Colo
RADIO a notable service if he will have
it printed and a copy placed in the
hands of every voter in the state
have taken occasion from time to
time in these letters to point out that
Secretary Daniels was being made the
target for a systematic, well financed
campaign of Misrepresentation and
vilification. Senator Thomas stated
the case much better than could hope
to do. Iquote from his speech:
Mr.. President, if a 1.-THE of the sins
of commission or of omission with
which Secretary Daniels has been
charged during the last twelve months
were true, he should be relieved of his
great Office, and no man should lift his
voice in protest. If a 1.-THE be true,
his detractors might find partial justi-
fication for their conduct. If a 1.-THE
be true, the administration should be
disciplined because responsible for him.
1t is not true; and firmly believe that
no one knows this better than the great
majority of his detractors. Indeed, l
might go farther and assert that the
campaign and SANDER and misrepre-
sentation waged and waging against
this upright and courageous Cabinet
officer has been largely inspired by
men in and out of the Navy who can
not use him and who are therefore de-
termined, if they can, to force his re-
moval or to crush him. .','r ~,
He is an obstacle to the material,
the farseeing, the profit making side
of preparedness" and since he will
not bend or step aside he must be
broken or run over. The pack has
been unleashed, and Tray, Blanche and
Sweetheart in full cry are baying at
his heels.
What has the Secretary done, or
omitted doing, that has started this
avalanche of denunciation? His duty;
that is all. Andhe has done it quietly,
modestly. and effectively He has done
it courageously. He has been I'M
daunted by the voices of the mighty,
the power of cabals, the tinsel of ep-
auletted srristocracy, or the self-inter-
est of Navy contractors. And he goes
upon his course undismayed by the
obloquy of the disappointed.
The Senator then proceeded to detail
the changes and reforms in the Navy
Department brought about by Daniels
and which had provoked the enmity of
certain special interests and favored
individuals:
First-The enforcement of the law
requiring competitive bidding by armor
plate factories and other concerns
seeking naval contracts. This policy
has effected savings totaling millions
of dollars.
Second-The abolition of the Inner
Circle" among officials of the Depart
ment. Under Republican administra-
lions small clique composed of officers
who had "pull' with the President or
the Secretary of the Navy ran the De-
partment, determined its policy and
distributed promotions and contracts
to its favorites. The members of the
elmer Circle" were called lads to
the Secretary and the officer or con-
For Sale-Household goods. Inquire
= 90 NJ, n M Cpo;<b haforo Ir11, 70