Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-24
Washington and the East In War
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fully justified. The government of the
United States, which is congress, de-
serves the support and the approVai
and the hearty commentator OF the
American people and to do so rs SIM
ply the best patriotism.
What is thought about the war az
Washington? What do they know,
what do they think. when will
1t end, how much will it cost?
I was in Washington on business
which will inure to the benefit OF
the state Of Iowa in relation to stale
printing. but l took the time to IN
quire and to seek knowledge as to the
above and similar questions; and 1t IS
very plain that little more Is known IN
Washington about the war than here
| in Iowa. There is this difference, how
ever that they keep a little closer up
| to the game and have some oppor-
tunity for personal contact with peo-
pie who have been abroad. But knowl-
edge is fragmentary. some information
! is conflicting. opinions vary as the tenn
peraments Of men. The main thing Is
| that the government is proceeding AS II
|
beginning of long war. and making
all preparations for winning 1t no Yat-
ter what the cost. That is the spirit
of the members Of congress in the
passage Of the bills which make up the
stupendous program for military aX-
petition as spectacular as the cru
sades and as formidable as that Of the
mongol adventurers. Some of the
Il l. onle cv1t a
sea is l!sconra sing. and it indicates
that Europe Is In such ferment that
no one may now know just what is
likely to be the outcome. But in mill
| tary and naval circles there is much
confidence. The war department Is 60
ing right ahead to do the best possible,
under the circumstances, despite the
criticism of "broomstick preparedness
| hurled at it. and utterly without re-
gard to the propaganda to besmrch
everyone who dares to disagree with
the majority. That there is much eff
! cheney. for instance. in the operations
Of the navy. is a matter Of common re-
mark. tho little is being said about the
| big Job of Transporting an army across
| the ocean. But as to most OF these
things one may not learn any more in
! Washington than in Des Moines.
| &s
In one respect, however. is the war
a visible thing in Washington. 1t has
regenerated the city. 1t has made over
a dingy, backward. southern town into
a busting city fairly bubbling over
with prosperity. The fact of the sit
| ting of war congress all summer was
the first big thing for Washington.
Congress brings large numbers Of
visitors to the capital. Then the COM
ing and going Of army and navy Off
GERS and others, gives the city the air
Of national capital in war time.
Uniforms are everywhere. over on the
| government grounds not FAR from the
museum they are excavatng for a
| building that Is to cover several acres.
1t will cost 100000 or more. 1t is
not a barracks, nor a hangar: but it is
a. temporary war structure in which is
| to be located some Of the offices made
possible by the war. And for good rea
son. There has been added to the popu-
lation Of Washington over 1900 men
and women, placed on the payrolls in
new positions, made since the wa,
| commenced. Then there are as many
more who have come from the outside
to take places made vacant by the
shifting about OF the war. Just think
of adding $4,000 to the population o.
the city.in such a short time! And tht
federal authorities are communicating
i buildings. For instance, the big Gordon
4 hotel probably larger than any hotel |"
! Iowa. was taken over for an office ft'
Hoover The war department occupies
all or a part Of fifteen buildings outside
Of it's regular offices. The navy over
| flows into six buildings. The food ad-
ministration has seven separate build
fings. Is it any wonder thats>a big tenn
porary building has been planned? And
| the man who sold me clean collar
said it was too bad that they had to
wait for war 10 make Washington
boom in a business way, but that is
what is happening now. The build
| ings are filed. residences can not
be had, hotels are crowded all the time
and the streets are, Of course. torn up
| at the busiest places.
This army Of $4,000 or more on the
payroll of Uncle Sam is the working
| force to which is entrusted the carry
| ing out Of the will of the people as ex-
pressed thru their representatives. 1t
Is thru them that the government acts.
Undoubtedly there are weak spots,
some leakage, much waste. but on the
whole an immense amount OF work is
being done with care and discretion
and the machinery Of government is
working smoothly. Congress adjourned
soon after I arrived in town.
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