The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-14
Removal of War Secretary Al
ready Urged at Capital.
Outcome of CrOzier's Testimony
on U. S. UnUreparedness.
STRIP BOARD OF RED TAPE!
Make Big Supply Division To
- Speed War Preparation.
Politics Rears Head in Demand
for Nonpartisan Cabinet.

washington. Dec. 14.-Demand TOT
a coalition cabinet and big supply u
yision-stripped of red tape-was IN
sight in congress today.
sentiment for such shifts in the
..~asant war mill crystallized as resul'
- General Crozier's amazing reVe err
+io,.s of Americas unpreparedhess Ioi
y-ar particularly in ordnance ,..-..
prcDonents of the supply ulVlsloh
-, Ia C,rozier's evidence of how
&c 81 red tape clogged the war
yybeeIs proved the need for centrallzar
- Of SIMPLY and for elimination OF
the unending routine OK s. oeOa'e9
and delays. ,... tf,,a+
has been heard since the start OF the
DESPITE efforts to keep politics in
the background, congressman aqHllI-
ted craftsmanship is rearing It's ned 1
Tbev asserted that President wilson
90 obtain the highest efficiency and
AT the same time the greatest co
oneration only thru u coalition capl-
net. .-,.,..
Let no one take either of these
movements lightly warned ;Ii -
whose efforts in behalf of unity IN the
war have been of the highest order.
.tTbere's no need to take a gloomy
view of the situation; many OF US are
thankful that we are finding out early
how things are going; and we refuse
to be pessimistic until the admlnlstra-
ton refuses to listen to reason
While the military affairs commit
tee continued it's quizZing of CrOzler
behind closed doors, indications were
that the whole question OF COVE n
rnent expenditures ana conduct of the
war would be opened in the senate by
consideration of a resolution to con-
tinue available the unexpended por-
ton of the presidents s1oO. 900
emergency war fund
Criticism of the Creel censorship is
almost certain. Senator BOrah de-
clared this censorship is in great meas
use responsible for conditions as re-
vealed by Crozier.
When the committee finishes with
Crozier Major General Sharpe, head
of the quartermaster corps; Benedlct
Crowel, assistant secretary OF war
and probably Secretary Baker, will be
called.
Crowell, early in the war an adviser
of the munitions board and member
of a special machine gun board, will
be asked to tell his side of the con-
troversy which Crozier admitted de-
layed selection of the principal type
of machine gun until two months after
the United States entered the war.
Hold Up CrOzicr Appointment.
In the meantime both appointments
of Crowell and Crozier are being hello
up in the senate.
Secretary Baker contends that the
deliberate methods used in machine
gun selection have worked to Ameri-
can advantage as the best types nov
produced.
Be ker suggests that guns will be
ready as fast as the men need them
He points out that in early stages Of
training it is not necessary to use full
armament
the probers is that such technicali
ties will be swept aside. The mair
fact of delays and elaboration instead
Of action and execution is the thing
they emphasize.
Rumor had it today that the reve
lations already made, plus others t.
come would result in a demand from
some quarters for Bakers removal