New-York tribune., 1917-07-30

Washington, July 29.--I asked an
able young man down here, whose ac-
cess 20 all the facts is intimate, what
he thought the war organization Of the
country was to-day. For answer he
took up his pencil and drew an hour
glass on sheet Of paper. The top Of
the figure he labelled The President, ~
the narrow constructed waist Of it he
marked "The War Department" and
the bottom, where it had again
widened out, he described as "The
Product War"
"And this" he said, is what it is
tending to become" and he drew two
straight, parallel lines, converting the
hourglass into a cylinder, widening the
point marked "War Department" until
it equalIed in width "The President
and THE Product War By which, l
took it, that he meant that outside the
War Department the organization for
the conduct of the war was and would
be practically negligible, as Secretary
Bakers job was the big job, and that
the War Department would expand to
do all the work for which there has
been a demand for "war boards" and
other mechanisms TO perform.
Bakers Power Grows
The man who constructed these dia-
fava s.vga.H hoe l. q -
the Council Of National Defence as the
body which should receive power and
conduct the war. l asked him what had
become Of the Council of National De-
fence. He drew another diagram-a
rectangle. This rectangle represented
The whole council, of six Cabinet Of
fcers. lie divided it across with a
line and marked two-thirds of the
space Baker" The remaining third he
bisecteG and marked the half adjoin-
ing Baker" Daniels" The remaining
space, one-sixth of the original area, be
divided into equal parts, marking them
severally Houston" Lane" Wilson"
and "Redheld." The reason was that
Baker and Daniels were the only two
members of the council with power.
The other members might talk, but
these two had the money TO spend and
the power TO carry policies into ef-
feet. Baker spent the most money, and
was, moreover, a much abler man than
Daniels, and therefore he was two
thirds Of the Council Of National De-
fence.
II you want an illustration Of how
little the council and its committees
amount TO and how much more power
ful are the Secretary Of War and Sec
retarv of the Navy, consider what hap
pened in the price-fxing controversy.
Secretary Lane, with a member Of the
Federal Trade Commission and the coal
committee of the Council of National
Defence. agreed with bituminous coal
producers upon the price Of coal. Mr.
Baker set il aside. announcing that the
council and committees were without
mower. Then he and Mr.. Daniels IN the
individual capacities as Secretary OF
War and Secretary Of the Navy an q
buvers of war products saw the coaI
men and also the steel men ana LoOA
action that the council ard committees
could not.
More Influence Than McAdoo
T,ka the recent victory Of Mr.. Baker
49, Mr. NcAGoo. | do not Wlsh 10
or,rLasizo this phase Of the result Ior
tbsra was no open controversy. bu1
NJ NcSdoo would have pre6erred 70
Sas see the new War Industries Board B,i- IN
sgT sse5.-Jsrt of the council. Mr.. Baker
Drssferred or to have it under the council nc
that IS, under himself and some DIS
'"ISS ITTSFsDe7dent. ne it might have become
~ -, -1ost rowarful thing in Washing
.a .as The Secretary Of War and the
Secretary Of the Navy might nave nave neen ,,,,
ofrri1ighed relatively 70 what they no"
- |ra Mr.. Baker wins. 1t IS 70 De un,
5er the council, and Mr.. Baker man nan
Il 70 be its chairman IN splle oi I'll In
miGable opposition Ig canalgGaLse' Ls 80 :" fact ,t
this Mr.. Baker was he.Peu Pc r,yiiTst oy r'. Who
l;"' %. - ' The council sided with him.
Sl- ,rareover ~ I',g to put the board under