Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-03-07

With which the government was con-
fronted when we entered the war. n OF
the equally tremendous achievements IN
the solving of that problem.
Des MOines News: Newton d. Baker, AZ
secretary of war. has shown development
In the II months the United States has
been in the conflict. Americas war record
to date has been creditable. That he has
capacity for further development as the
wal continues, no one who knows Baker
or his record will gainsay.
New York World: There IL no need on
the part OF Americans of. denying that
mistakes have been made or that delays
have occurred, or of minimizing either the
mistakes or the delays. The British IN
French understand about mistakes and
delays even better han we do and are
less likely to worry about them. But Il
Is quite another matter when the chair
man of the Senate committee on military
affairs declares that the military estAb-
and Introduces legislation to take the con.
duct OF the war out of the hands Of the
president and his legal advisers. In those
circumstances military secrets could not
be allowed to stand in the way OF the fun
truth. Secretary Bakers testimony will
inevitably bring new assurance and conf
dence to the French and British az we'll ~
TO the great mass of the American people.
Denver News: The secretary Of w11
has given new faith and new courage to
the United States and to the nations allied
there was a different spirit abroad. The
people accepted the contents Of Nj
Bakers comprehensive account OF his
stewardship to the Senate committee on
military affairs without cavll. They were
glad Of what he said. They were not
l uy311t~sr A~ v{rlr Hfrr,- -. Hs-S A-.LA A.
felt satisfied and went about their affairs
holding their heads higher with a fixed
determination to back their fighting meD
with the full strength of the citizenship
at home.
Des Moine Register: It Is strange that
even our most sagacious men refuse to
learn that no cause is ever won by smoth-
ering criticism, while in nine cases out
OF 10 the attempt to smother criticism
ruins the men who are promoting the
cause, and frequently ruins the cause
itself.
Senator Chamberlain did for Secretary
Baker just what Senator Reed did for
Hoover when he refused to allow tho
secretary to talk to the same body OF
. men before whom the senator had made
his attack or the war department. From
the moment 1t appeared that the secre-
tary was to be held down to a small conn
mittee room, and his appearance even
there to be treated as a favor to him, fro0
that minute all he had to do was to make
any sort of a case for himself to win tie
sympathy of the American people.
Secretary Baker came out OF his senate
hearing 80 nue. the victor that Genaae
Chamberlain would not get a pat3oot
hearing today before any audience aav.
where. and yet Senator Chamberlain 10
strong man, and in many respects he n
doubt was justified in critfcising the vos
department. II not Secretary Baker him.
self. Senator Chamberlain set out TO e.
cure 4 reorganization. Of the war manage.
Ihent. He has more powerfully entrenched
the present management than, the pres:.
dent could have done or any other mas
or combination OF men. by allowing the
public to understand that he was NOT
willing to give Secretary Baker a hearing
before Just ~ many interested people, q
he ha1 addressed himself.