Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18
PLACING RESPONSIBILITY.

Inc T6V6lallOuS uldUc Ny NSA"A
Crozier in his testimony before the
sepate's committee ON military Affairs
VI terday merely bear out the opinion
TIL. majority of Americans have held
for months regarding Secretary Bak-
er's lack of ability to fill the import
ant post to which he has been as
signed.
Senate leaders predict that the in
curry which has been set on foot oy
Senator. Chamberlains committee is
but the beginning OF a general and
searching inquiry into the conduct OF
the war. Such an investigation clear
" is the duty of the congress and it
is no less the duty Of the American
public to keep in the closest possible
touch with all the developments, not
for the sake of gratifying a morbid
desire for sensationalism but for the
purpose of becoming informed regard
ing the actual conditions in Washing
ton
The fact that this government
needs supreme war council. com
posed of the strongest men in the
whole country, grows more and more
apparent daily. 1t has been indicated
by the obvious inefficiency of Secre-
tary Baker, Secretary Daniels and
others who are endeavoring to fill po-
sitions Of vital Importance to the
government, to the country and the
world. These men. no doubt. are do
ing as much as they can. There is
no inclination to question their mo-
tives: their lack is one OF ability, not
one of good Intentions.
The deplorable condition of UMPIRE
paredness in America is not pleas
ant subject for contemplation, but
/, war itself is not a pleasant affair, and
disasreeable' facts must be expected
and accepted as part of it always.
Mistakes will be made, as they have
been made, and there is no way by
which they can be eradicated in ad-
vance. But they can be minimized
by obtaining for responsible official
positions the strongest and ablest
men in the whole nation,
Failure to recognize this fact and
to make it changeless rule is a
mark of weakness in the administra.
ton. There is no way to soften this
statement: there is no reason why II
should be softened. II there ever was
time for plain speech and unalloyed
patriotic action, this is the time.
Every delay which could be pre-
vented is blow at the nations
chances for winning the war. II
means a needless exposure OF Ameri
can citizens to the. perils Of the battle
field .
President Wilson is burdened with
more than one man can accomplish
! because some of those on whom he
must depend for much of the work
for which the public and posterity
will hold him responsible are not OF
sufficiently high ability to meet the
test successfully. :.
| It is regrettable that such condi
ton must be barred in America at this
| time, but it would be calamity II il
should continue to exist without be
ling exposed and without being
remedied.
There can be no question Of
craftsmanship The most active critics
iof the secretary OF war among the
members of the committee are demo
cratic senators. The man who test
fed without equivocation that the de
lay in furnishing weapons to the arm,
is due entirely to Secretary Baker i:
the chief of ordnance in the army, al
officer who recognizes the secretar.
of war as his superior.
In other countries legislative vote
of no confidence would result in thu
resignation of cabinet officials unde'
conditions similar to those existing IL
America today. This is not the Gus
tom in this country, and from th'
standpoint of the public which is de
Ip,nding on the government for tn
highest efficiency in the conduct o
the war this is a regrettable situation