The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-12-27
LET THE INVESTIGATION GO ON
IN THE OPEN.

Now that the administration has
yielded to the protest from all parts
of the country against the incompet-
eney In the departments upon which
devolve the preparation for war, and
an investigation has been started by
congress which has already shown in
excusable laundering, lack of execu-
tive ability, personal jealousies that
prevent effective team work, and the
ramification of politics into every
branch OF the governments war ac-
tivities the democratic press is be-
ginning to recant and to express re-
greet that the investigation was under
taken until after the war, or IL un-
dertaken now that it was not in Sc
cret The attitude of democratic pa :
pers is illustrated in the following ed
itorial from the Anaconda Standard:
"The wisdom may be doubted of
making public the congressional in
vestigations now being conducted into
various matters connected with war
better had the Investigations been de-
ferred until after the war; or at any
rate until congress has disposed of the
legislation necessary to the prosecu-
ton Of the war which is now before
it. and until the appropriations have
been passed. It Is not apparent that
any desirable result can be obtained
by investigation at this time.
Certainly it is not desirable that all
the testimony brought out In the in
vestigat tons should be given to the
public. 1t Is to be remembered that
everything Is not read alone by the
American people, but by the people of
Germany and of the countries allied
with us The impression may well be
conveyed to the Germans and even to
our allies that we are in a turmoil
that we are not unanimously for the
war, that we are chiefly occupied in
finding fault. Evidently the admins
tration could have prevented the In
vestigations had it been disposed to
use it's influence against them, but ev-
identity it preferred to let the investi-
cations go to the limit so long as
there was a sentiment In congress in
favor of them. But ii would be much
better If the proceedings were con-
Quoted in secret, or at any rate, If
the reports were very carefully CEN
sored"
Secrecy, keep. the people in the dark,
the people who are furnishing millions
of men to fight and billions of dollars
to carry on the war don't let them
know what's going on for fear it might
also reach the ears of our enemies,
and, worse still, might force large
number of deserving democrats" off
The public pay roll. If there had been
less secrecy regarding war work there
would probably have been no call for
IN investigation, Men without exper- |
ence in large affairs have been placed
1t the head of the most important war
petty dickering has de-
aged the placing of large contracts for !
munitions and quartermaster supplies |
md after nine months since war was !
declared the government finds itself |
'ntangled in red tape with no guiding |
department. head capable of bringing !
rider out of chaos
And yet we are told by our demo- I
ratio friends that this is no time to
investigate and that it should be de-
erred until after the war. In other
'ords, even if you know that your
orse is being stolen, wait until the
hief has got away with him and is
afe in the hills before you go out and
'ck the barn door. This may be a
God rule to adopt from a purely pol
ical standpoint but the people of this
ountry are not so much concerned in
lie fate of any political party as they
re in winning the war and winning II I
nick; in providing ample clothing for I
le men who are to win it; In equip v
ng them with guns of the best model |
Id in building ships to carry supplies &
our own men and to our allies. We Il
ust have these things now, In fact II
ould have had most of them long n
70. and it is to accomplish this that U
e investigation is being held If the "
en- who have been intrusted with the II
sponsibility to provide them have m
He'd, the people want capable men In
bstituted for them now, not after the
" Is over. The investigation will
I hurt us in the estimation of our VI
les, for they have had similar trou-
rs Of their own and thew did MOI