New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-29

has had time to prepare. NO one knows
who is likely to be his choice, for the
Secretary of War keeps his secrets
well. Judge Loyett will probably serve
as acting chairman, but it is not be-
lieved here that he will become per-
manent chairman.
What May Happen
Now, let US make one or two suppo-
sitions and see what will happen. Let
us suppose that Mr.. Baker, who is an
ambitious man and excites good deal
Of admiration by the courage with
which he has accumulated power in his
hands-greater power than any one
else in Washington outside of the
President-let US suppose that Mr..
Baker caused to be named as chairman
of the War Industries Board another
friend of his, as complete Baker man
as Mr.. Scott was.
Then let US suppose that munitIon
ministry is created by simply legislat-
ing the War Industries Board, per-
sonnet unchanged, into ministry OF
munitions, its chairman perhaps to sit
in the Cabinet. Something no doubt
would be gained by that. but wouldn't
the substance remain practically the
same? The real control of the mu-
nitions situation would stay about
what it is now. Many of the faults
of the existing situation would be
perpetuated.
A ministry of munitions means any
thing or nothing. No two people here
have the same idea in mind when they
use the words. Significance is colored
by the ambitions and personal interests
of those who speak. Sucn u reorganiza-
ton as have just suggested. and
believe that | have correctly stated
one of the possibilities. would repre-
sent some gain. The War Industries
Board, disappointing as it has proved
represented some gain over. what had
gone before, but not the gain that
might have come from breaking away
from the mistakes ana weaknesses OF
the past and starting afresh. The same
chance to put the past behind and have
a new deal exists now. That is why
the issue is vital and why the struggle
is going on.
The Small Arms Dispute
The situation which The Tribune has
revealed regarding small arms is one
: example OF the faults Of munitions con-
! troll which is under the domination OF
the War Department. The history OF
small arms was this: When the wal
broke out the War Department had an
I official weapon, the Springfield rife
and no possibility of manufacturing
/ enough of them. The whole idea tina,
underlay the advisory commission OF
! the national defence was to find out
I what the War and Navy departments
I wanted, to find out what the manufact-
urers of the country we're equipped "a
produce and reconcile the difference be-
( tween the two. The advisory commits
/ sion reported that Springfields could
not be had. but that Lee Enields ir
I sufficient numbers could. II even vent
ured so far as TO say in the presence
of the Ordnance Department that tn,
Springfield would soon be regarded fol
| the purposes of this war an obsolete
weapon.
The ordnance people were shocked
at this heresy. Ultimately they yielded
TO the inevitable. Or, rather. they ap
peared to yield; appeared to accep
the commercial situation as 1t was
They adopted the Enfield, but begaI
10 make it over in accordance will
their own ideas. The result was I'll,
delay which The Tribune exposed.
While that delay went on there were
persons in the Council Of National De
fence who felt strongly that time wa!
being wasted. They were indignan
that their work in organizing for thu
rapid production Of small arms wa
being thrown away.
But when they went to the War In
dustries Board, or that part Of it who's
special function was small arms, the,
got only words of approval for wha
General Crozier and his associates wer
doing. An independent ministry o
munitions--better still. a Secretary o
Munitions in the Cabinet, having n,
relation to the past of the munition
organization-would operate as a cheel
upon all such situations as this vast
OF time over small arms.
That is why the coming reorganizs
ton is felt here 70 be vital TO the sue
cessful conduct Of. the war. What 4
! needed is a fresh start, free from tn
personal considerations that have oper
ated heretofore TO prevent a yigorou
and independent organization for tn
control Of the industries of tho coun
try as they arc related to the war,