Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-13
Thursday Morning, December Is, 1917.
That Congressional
Investigation

Congressional decision to investigate the de-
partment is welcome news every good and patriotic
citizen of this land regardless party partisanship
There charge against the war department 1t may
be doing its level best may be efficient But
country wants to KNOW! 1t wants to be surei We
cannot afford take chances. There has been lot
of talk of unnecessary delay in furnishing needed equip
ment There have been complaints about many things
They may groundless unjust But rigorous invest
igation of the and and ammunition and
equipment departments of the at this time
may we'll save disaster summer.
The war department has the biggest job its hands
any American system organization has ever under
taken ordinary task has been multiplied not doubled
Hundreds office employees had TO be broken in and
trained labor SHORTAGE is general over the nation
Transportation and fuel p b lie m have to be
met But even with handcaps and trials the war
department must still make good if to make
creditable showing in Europe year. Credabe!
Wait minute NECESSARY is the word to here
not "credtabe"
We MUST make good over there next summer
The war department must not only be handled eff
GENTLY and we'll perform miracles. 1t must do
the impossible and work overtime and be conducted by
the best in the nation.
Military officials in power in Washington may be
competent and they may not be. Only the test of war
can determine military mans real standing The
peace time department may fall woeully short
of war requirements.
congressional investigation will determine these
things No patriotic congressman will allow parsanship
or politics to this investigation at ALL 1t is
imperative prejudice and tteness have part in
this important coalition cabinet, often spoken
of lately, may result from this investigation.
Wilson is great president. He has proved it many
But the world his cabinet is the weakest
the country has had since George Washington won the
battle of Yorktown. And especially in the navy and
portfolios important time of If the
gentlemen who head departments risen to the
emergency exceled themselves and gone beyond their
speed and struck harder strength well and
good. 1t will be grand to the nation
at large
But if there is weakness and confusion and lack of
unusual ability in handling these problems. tfen
the right men should be called TO The greatest
in America is great to be secretary Of war
at this time The one man in a million is required to
head the ordnance department Artillery our greatest
weakness Millions upon millions have been entrusted
by congress the and departments to spend
Therefore it is the duty of congress to require an &C.
counting of money which is valuable. and of tme which
is valuable STILL and of efficiency which priceless
The departments censorship of news has been
about silly athng red perpetrated upon
long suffering constituency. The lack of equipment
gives to grave suspicious The lack of definite in
formation fears for the worst There many
able in congress- and their probe in this matter will
either complete reorganization of the depart
ments under investigation tend greatly to reassure
the nation that its is being handled well human
hands and brains and h. arts handle it. Nothing less
will pass this time and in this where
masses of men and material must be handled with all
the precision and speed that small handled
before.