The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-08-10
CONSTRUCTIVE
GOVERNMENT
REFORMS MUCH NEEDED

Washington, Aug. Now that In
Gle Sam has settled down to the grim
grind of warfare and actually has
troops at the front, efforts are to be
made to correct a number of glazing
evils in the preparation for and con-
duct of the war, which hitherto have
been ignored to preclude even a suspi-
cion of criticism of the government or
|any of its departments. That many
errors of commission and omission
must be expected, everyone comedies,
and no attention is to be paid to the
pieayune shortcomings which are
bound to develop.
The first evil to be combatted, it is
agreed by some of the biggest men of
The country, is lack of coordination
among the various departments. An
bther is the secretiveness on many
points through which the American
people are kept in absolute ignorance
$f things of which it is acknowledged
their enemy has full and ample infor-
nation. Above all, it is felt that the
American people must be aroused to
4 realization that their country is
deeply involved ir the greatest war Of
al the ages.
Reports have gone broadcast thru
out the land that everything is work
ling beautifully at Washington" when
such really is not the case, nor could
very well be the case under any adj
rninistration whatever which went into
war with the nation in condition Of
| absolute unpreparedness. Everyone
Wishes to support the President, but
Iii is felt that even the president does
not know of some Of the grievous con-
ditions.
Hor example, the president decreed
that Germans in America should not
be disturbed in the conduct of their
| hog innate business, and to this policy
| ~ attributed the loss of many mer-
/, silast ships. Many Germans are in
l4he insurance business, and by insuring
chips and their cargoes get full infor-
alton of the port and date of sailing
5e port Of destination and full man.
est Of the cargoes. A member of the
sbinet has expressed an opinion that
formation goes to Germany by wire
/ SIS from Somewhere in the western
emisphere." So this information
bout the ships gees at once to the
| lrboats.
Y In one case, steamship was halted
hi a U-boat, whose commander sale
| 81 the merchant captain, you're l.
| ours late; what detained your"
/ In another case, the commander o.
ls u-boat said to a merchant captain
II whats your cargc?"
II "Oh just some odds and ends" sale
Bhe captain.
4 Don't lie to me-" replied the Ger
man. Il have your manifest in my
hand. In which hold are those alumni
mum plates stored?"
! These are actual occurrences, easil!
yerif ID, and due unquestionably to thu
4 free hand given to Germans IN TIT
conduct of their business in this coun
4 try.
To meet the protest against the ex
clusion of Germans or persons of Ger
man descent from the Red Cross unit
authorities have shown that three sue
persons were recently taken in Eng
land and "two were executed and on
was sent out of the country" says
big man who knows.
No one wishes to be captious or t
criticise the government in any way
but feeling has developed, and is re
fected in the columns Of some Of tn
| foremost administration papers Of tn
country, that constructive reforms ar
needed in many lines and that a grea
part of the secretiyeness must b
lifted from the face Of public affairs