Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-15
COMMITTEE CONDUCTS lNVSSTi-
CATION ON BEHALF OF RE.
PUBLICAN MEMBERS
CONDITIONS FOUND GOOD,
FORCES ARE EFFECTIVE
Congressman Green and Woods, Of
Iowa, and knutson, of Minnesota,
and Pronounce It One of Best in
Country-Spirit Of Men Fine.
special to Times Republican.


Des Moincs Nov. l5.-Camp Dodge
is good, Camp Dodge soldiers are good
soldiers, the task of converting the
raw material into lorcetul and eff
fcctive army is proceeding smoothly
and as rapidly as possible at one Of
the very best environments Of the
country.
That is the general tenor of a report
that will be made to congress on be-
half of the republican members of
congress VINO this week made detailed
INVESTIGATION Of the cantonment near
Des Moines. They will not report
that everything is just as it should be,
nor that conditions are in every respect
ideal; but they will 90 back to Wash
inSton two weeks hence to say frankly
to their colleagues that they are
nightly pleased with Camp Dodge,
with the organization and building the
cantonment and with the officers, with
the men, and for conducting its atfairS.
congressman William r. Green and
Frank p. Woods, OF Iowa, and Con-
gresham Harold Knutson. of Mime
sofa, visited the camp. They all ex-
pressed themselves well pleased with
the situation at the camp.
They are doing splendid work at the
camp, said Judge Green after his visit.
The officers in charge seem to have
everything systematized well and
everyone is working hard at the grim
task thai has hecn set before him.
They are a line lot Of young men and
they'll make a great army
The spirit at the camp is fine said
Mr. Woods. Il was much impressed
with the carnestnoss and sincerity OF
all in the work they are doing. Officers
and men are cooperating heartily and
all are anxious to complete the pre-
limInaries and to get ready for actual
fighting just as soon as possible. The
camp is certainly wonder They have
built the buildings rapidly and they are
getting the camp into splendid Condl-
ton with roads and walks and every
thing that will contribute to the COM
fort OF the men. / have talked with
great many Of the men. There is very
little complaining. They are all busy
and generally Contentcd. They are in
need OF guns and equipment but are
doing the best they can with what they
have. Tacy report good health and
comfortable conditions, and certainly
Des MO!nes is to be congratulated on
the way the cantonment has been maze
ready for this fine army Of young men
Judge Green met his secretary, who
is a lieutenant and is making rapid
progress, and also a number of the
boys from Audubon county. Mr.. Woods
had the pleasure of meeting a great
number of the boys from northern
Iowa who warmly greeted him. Both
men have been at various other camps
especially in the east and while not
willing to make comparisons showed
plainly that they regarded Camp Dodge
as certainly one of the very best Of the
group Of sixteen scattered over the
country. They went to the camp un-
announced and went quietly about
among the boys and minor officials,
after paying their respects to General
Plummer.
Complain Of Tran sportation.
The only feature Of the situation
about which there was any complaint
was the transportation to and from
the city. Some of the officers feel very
much discouragedand d!sheartened over
the latest order which they have just re-
ceived to take 5000 of their boys and
send them south to fill out the i'm
perfect southern guard regiments. The
officers say that they had just fairly
got the boys placed, had learned their
qualities, and the training was begin
ming to count, and they regret the nee
tssity for starting in again with such
large number of new men. But as
to clothing the boys were found to be
very well satisfied.
Congressman Woods as chairman OF
the republican national congressional
committee has been devoting himself
-T;-;tioIII!y: &c the military situation since
the adjournment of congress and is
gathering q vast amount of inforE12-
ton at the various cantOnments that
Will be immensely valuable when the
new legislation starts in next month
of Judge Green, also Of other mem
bers Of the Iowa delegation, to equip
themselves just so far as they possibly
can to frame up legislation in con-
gress that will be helpful to the mill
tary forces and that will tighten the
burdens of the soldier boys wherever
possible. There will be a big program
for congress and the time has been so
short since the last adjournment that
the members will do very little more
than to visit the camps and help IN
the various noney-raising enterprises
before they will be back at the grind