The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-20
What Is the use of. probes?

what ~ J0e use OIL pTODeS.
Are they worth while-or not?
Do they do good-or infinite harm?
The subject was discussed yester-
day by a small group OF Capitol
men. No vote was taken on the mat
ter but the preponderant opinion was
that probes are very useful, very
much worth while. and can do a vast
amount of good IF THEY ARE con-
QUOTED ON THE RIGHT LINES!
And, inasmuch as the war situation
is too serious to permit of anything
but judicious. careful and patriotic
inquiry into our affairs. it is plain to
see that virtually all OF the probes
Just started by Congress win be on
the right lines.
Congress has not been informed to
any great extent just what was being
done in our war affairs. The gates of
executive information are not ex-
actly closed, but they are not wide
open. by any means. Congress had
met the administrative branch of
government half way. and more-and
had done what the administrative side
asked to have done.
Congress merely voiced the demands
of the people in asking for the
probes. That Is ample excuse for
their institution at this time. In
fact, Congress would be negligent not
to institute the probes.
Senator Reeds probe OF the sugar
situation is said by some TO assume
the proportions OF a persecution. But
friends of Mr.. Reed say that good
will come from this, even though a
little fire and birthstone is connected
with it. Mr.. Hoover will have an
opportunity to be heard, and the
story will not be one-sided, no one
need fear, SO it is said.
Medill Mccormick. returned from a
tour of thorough investigation into
affairs in the war zone. made an i'm
preston on the Senate Military Affairs
Committee by his recital of our needs.
AS Senator Hitchcock, vice chair
man, said: Mccormick is a trained
newspaper man. capable .of keenly
Analysing situations. and of gathering
a vast amount OF information. He
has done well, and is able to report
with much clarity on conditions as
he found them. And he is in a posi-
ion TO recommend. with much force.
many things which he thinks we
should do to win the war;
Copies of McCormick's testimony
were struck off for a number of the
committeeman who asked that they
be allowed to look them over at
leisure. They are DESTROYS of giving
some thought to some of the state
ments he made to the committee, and
particularly those which comprised his
recommendations as to ways and
means for winning the war.
People outside the city may get
the impression that because of the
strong Republican support for probe
resolutions some political plays are
being INDUCED in at this session.
The truth is the desire for the
probes has been entirely bipartisan in
nature. Democratic support for the
resolutions has been spontaneous and
extensive. In fact, some of the reso-
buttons have come from Democratic
sources, Just as they should have
come.
The statement at the Capitol that
the President is rather unduly alarm
ed over the multiplicity of probes is
said to have been met by one Of his
friends in Congress with the asser-
ton that there never can be as many
pEODeS III dCllOn as lneT6 are Things
to be probed. and that nothing will
be done, at this time, to weaken the
country's position or to make US more
susceptible to enemy attacks.
A sentiment developing very rapidly
on the hill, and understood to be pre-
cisely the position Of the President,
urges a delay in acting on universal
military training legislation until after
the war is over.
The burden of argument of those
who take this stand Is as follows:
I've are not compelled to settle
the matter just now. All the men are
being trained that can be spared, and
thousands are being trained who can
not even be used on the other side.
2.-Perhaps peace terms will settle
the problem of military preparation
for all time to come. We do not
want to indorse any principle now
which would embarass US In support
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