The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-02-15
WHY SENATOR cHAMBERLAlN'S
CHANGE OF FRONT?


distinguished senator from Oregon.
chairman OF the senate committee on
military affairs, recently said in 2
public address in the city Of New
York that the United States govern
ment had fallen down" That every
bureau Of every department was in
efficient. That the entire machinery
of government had abouc ceased func-
tioning.
No statement that he could have
uttered could have been more sweep
ing.
What mast have been the effect Of
his speech in Germany
Germany had but recently made the
same boast Those in authority had
ridiculed our army with the evident
intention OF creating the opinion
among the great body Of the German
people and throughout the German
army that Germany had nothing TO
fear from the United States as the
whole military aud naval establish
ments were inefficient and to make
ready for war would require the work
Of years.
That long before the United States
would be prepared for battle, either
on land or sea. Germany would have
time to conquer her enemies.
Now. TO bolster mp these assertions.
here comes d distinguished member
OF the United States senate. the very
head and front of the committee on
military affairs and publicly and amaz-
ingly confirms every statement made
by those in authority in Germany
Suppose that General Won linden
burg and Admiral Won Tirpitz were
to publicly proclaim tomorrow that
GermaRy's military and naval estab-
lishment had Fallen down" what ef.
feet would it produce in this coun-
try?
What effect woula it produce in Ger
many and throughout the war strick-
en- temtories?
II would be electrical and We would
have. a right TO feel that Germany was
ready TO sue for peace.
We may well believe that AIR Cham
berlain's speech has hal the same eft
feet and the patriotic people of Ore
gon should be none TOO quick in ask.
ing for his resignation.
He has hit this country a solar
plexuS-a body blow He has hit be.
low the belt. because he is in a posi-
ton to do 80.
II there were any truths for his
statements the effect OF his ntteranc-
es would be fatal
Fortunately it has been shown that
they are barren of facts Mr. Cham
berlain in a speech in the senate adj
mits that his remarks were too sweep
ing. That they were made under the
impulse OF the moment That had he
been sitting at his desk and had
time for reflection be would have
spoken with more moderation.
He says that he spoke under the
spell Of the moment.
We must conclude that he was nyp-
Noticed. There seems 10 other ex-
plantation
Mr Roosevelt was on the platform
with him and it is an open secret that
a movement was on foot to place the
ex-president On the war council
board" which was TO play its part in
the fall elections program.
But instead of seholding every bu-
reau OF every department of the
United States government in a col
lapsed condition the country d sreat-
ed to the rather sad spectacle of be-
holding the chairman of the senate
committee on military affairs trying
to recover from an inglorious tumble. |
His apology viii hardly suffice for
the harm he has done.
The distinguished senator from Or.
egon made an address before the
Florida Bar Association last summer.
and in the most eulogistic terms spoke /
OF the magnificent and extraordinary
that were being made
by our war and naval establishments.
among ether slings he said that