New-York tribune., 1918-02-16
tremendous Work
Done by America,
Says Senator Kirby
eply to Senator Weeks, Senator

In reply to Senator Weeks, Senator
Kirby said:
"The main purpose Of most Of the
criticism, as developed, it seems to
nc. is to cmbarrass the Administers
t'on rather than to complain of the in
efficiency of the War Department.
Il have not attempted to justify any
lneffciency anywhere on the part of
any man, but when we declared this
war We undertook the mightiest enter
prise in ell the annals of time: to fight
successfully war 5000 miles across
the sea with an army that had not been
raised; to be transported in ships that
had not been built; to meet a power
full enemy that must be fought in the
air, on the earth, under the earth and
under the sea-an enemy that had
fought the other great nations Of the
world to a standstll
"That was the enterprise embarked
upon by the United States. And no
other nation in the history of the
world or now upon the face of the
earth was equal to the accomplishment
of this task but ours.
What has been the result? In less
than eight months an army of 100000
men has been assembled. uniformed
and equipped, and several times more
at that time are already yondcr in
France. fully equipped. fully trained
on the fighting line, and capable, in the
estimation of FRANCE. to successfully
resist the enemy in heading the battle
line.
Criticism Unwarranted
There has been criticism Of some
of these volunteer agencies. It is un
warranted. 1t is unjust in large re-
spect. 1t has been said that their pro
cedure was unfair. that it was unjust
or the government to expect a man
who was interested in a particular line
Of manufacturing or industry 70 serve
mere for the government and not give
ms own private industry the benefit.
NO single particle OF testimony has
oeen Drought out in the investigation
winch discloses any crooked transaction
~ any Of these boards anywhere.
the public letting Of contracts was
intended, OF course, to protect the gov
crnment in not awarding a contract at
700 nign price when others might
come in and compete. But there could
be no competition. The law of supply
and an demand was absolutely eliminated.
Inc demand was great and there was
no supply.
This committee went to all the
nanufac5uring parties that thnv
thought could convert their plants into
factories for this sort of stuff. Thev
engaged them. They fixed the price
mat should be paid for the material
Ihac was to be manufactured. They
h%ed 1T at what they thought would be
reasonable figure, and then they al
lotted the amount of that to the dif-
ierent manufacturing institutions in
the United States and employed the
services of about 300 manufacturing
plants and used them where they here
tofore had only used about twelve.
nat has been the result? The
army has been clothed. The law Of
supply and demand has been, as I
sad, allocated and there was complaint
sun OF want Of publicity in letting the
contracts and the reason that has been
gwen for the failure to do that was
that the law Of supply and demand was
no longer in existence and could not
DC in the circumstances. The further
reason was that they had violated the
law in refusing to do that. The law
vas properly suspended by an order
duly made, and it was done in order
that the supply might be increased.
Governments Method
This method was adopted that the
goods might be had and that the gov
eminent might not be robbed by those
who had the control Of the supplies
that were on hand. That was the rea
son which actuated the Supply Com
m'ttec They started TO issue these
advertisements for bids. because there
was, was SO great demand for certain
Kinds OF material that those who had
the supply would increase the price
outrageously. That would have been
done unquestonably.
That has been the experience in all
lands up to now. They thought that
vas the best business ability that could
pe exercised and they used it for the
benefit Of the government.
ut is said that this man Eisenman.
'aaa..;i sne chairman of the Supply Committee.
permitted contract to be made with
ore Kaplan, who had brother in the
National Council of Defense, for a