The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-06-22
Outbreaks When Looked Into Fail
To Produce Any Proof Of Mis-.
management Or Graft
MINORITY APPARENTLY '..
rs WITHOUT POLICIES
Some Opposition To Maioritys
Plans Likely To Bear Salu-
g ,tary Influences
ny ERNHsT q. WALKER.
fAFail an,ciaI The ,Adu.rttsar


squirt tof opposition to war manage;
meilt, MS evidenced here of late prob.
ably should not be ignored There have
been an increasing number of these out
breaks within the last ten days and
investigations have followed quickly
in every instance. The administration
is certainly on the alert to prevent any
scandal in the expenditures of its bill.
lions of dollars and, of course, should
be. The chief feature for the good
citizen to worry about at present may
be that so mhny, practically all, the
complaints are shown to be virtually
unfounded. III this continues, bye and
bye alarms about the governmental
conduct Of its enormous war business
may fall upon deaf ears. rwl
. AS a matter of fact, there has prob
ably been too much unanimity of sup
port at Washington for war measures.
Robust resistance, now and then, not
only develops faults in large proposals.
but brings out helpful suggestions. Gov
eminent by political parties is caleu-
lated to afford this kind Of criticism
but the system has broken down GER
tainly during the war with Germany.
First of all the politician is more or
less wary of criticizing the administra-
ton in war time, when the popular
slogan is toH'staHd behind the Presi-
tdent. =" The Administration program
has undonbtedly been one of general
excellence, with exceptions now and
then, and, on the other hand, the Re
publicans as the minority purity have
had no policy or program.
Coalition Proposal Not Serious
II is difieult indeed for them to
have any such program and there is
no Indication that for the present they
win have any. Their attempts to get
some recognition in the actual man
agement met with utter failure. Sug-
hgestions of coalition cabinet were
never for moment entertained. Fol.
I lowing that came efforts to have a
large committee of senators and repre-
sentatives to oversee war operations
Eby keeping in close touch with the ex.
ecntive departments to note not only
the needs of the government for war
purposes but to see how the moneys
were being appropriated. -.
| That suggestion was vigorously
frOwned down, which was not a little
10 the, chagrin of certain lawmakers on
the hill The President put his foot
down very hard on that proposition
M he POSSIBLY was justified in doing
lAfter all he isvrather imperions with
congress on occasion, but he yields a
flttie something when there is sutfi
cient cutlery About the time the Brit
.bish Mission was concluding its labors
II L., hal nf IA al
bursts of temper against the White
I House In secret session there was al
Afternoon of sputterings and one OF
the hitter complaints was that in the
White House conferences and also al
the limited social functions in honor
Of the British Visitors, ssenatOrs and
representatives had been as completely
Ignored as though there were no cong
ress There were other bitter com
piaints which must have reached the
President repeatedly that Republicans
in congress, although cooperating cor
Ehially with him, were not taken into
his confidence ,at all and not inviter
ito the White House to talk matter,
lover. ..:.' 3Fs'uH 81
Minority Sometimes Consulted
But of recent weeks this has changed
somewhat and several times the ,Repub
keans have been invited ,inawith theil
Democratic brethren for an evening Of
talk about the general situation, This
has allayed but. not entirely appeaset
the minority contingent. They ar,
constantly made to feel in kind,
sort of way that the Democrats m,
running the war and will continue 81
to do. '.E1
The situation Is rather humiliatiH,
to galaxy of proud old ex-leaders anC
even when they are made complaeen
by some little evidences of executiy,
favor, they gather in the cloakroOm
and in their Office suites from time Il
time to scuss and tdenuneiate. The sit
nation is gall and NORWOOD but moth
ing can be done except to follow
patriotic course and bide the advent o.
n later day.
One may search the length an,
breadth of official Washington, indeed
without finding particular evidence o.
war scandals. II is not 80 far bacl
to the Spanish War days and the con
trast, as to contracts and favors of tina
time is quite noteworthy. While the
Council for National Defense is muel
excOriated in political and military cir
cles, it does not appear that its mem
beers merit anything but the deep graf
itude of the country, The city over
flows with the best business men o.
the country, who, in sense, are su
perceding government officials.
Business Service Excellent
Never before in time Of stress hal
the government been able to purchas,
so advantagrously, considering all tn,
circumstance, the things of which IL Il
in need. Wherever there is need o.
high class business service, men of tn,
very highest and most successful expe
rienee hurry to Washington 10 do thei
bit. And in sense the war is bein,
run by the business men of the land
As is generally known they are servinl
without pay They are buying ainos
everything the government wants IL