, 1918-01-31

terms of peace, so far as they concern
Belgium itself, are absolute political,
economic and territorial independence,
equitable PREPARATION and guarantees
for the future. .
The British labor party in conven-
ton at Nottingham declared its posi-
ton in the matter of war and peace.
A resolution was adopted welcoming
and indorsing the statements of Prem
Ter Lloyd George and President Wilson
and calling on the central powers to
formulate their war aims at the ear
Hest possible moment. Speakers gave
high praise to Mr.. Wilson'S statement,
and 1t was made clear that the party
would not stand for peace negotiations
with Germany while she holds the ter
ritories she has seized.
ID
Fuel Administrator Garfield's indus-
trial shutdown was far from being
wholly successful In relieving the coal
shortage and railway tie-up. Fol this
the plan was not entirely to blame,
for heavy SHOWS In the eastern part
of the country interviewed to prevent
the free movement Of coal trains.
Consequently Mr.. McAdoo was con-
strained to declare an embargo on
three of the largest coal carrying roads
of the East, forbidding the %transporta-
ton of any freight save fuel, munitions
and foodstuffs. The situation, espe-
cially on the Atlantic seaboard, still Is
most serious.
Partisan politics reared its ugly
head in congress last week and en-
tered into the discussion of the con-
duct of the war. So far it has done
little harm, and perhaps 1t cannot be
kept down in an election year.. Sena-
tors Penrose and Stone were the chief
offenders, the former attacking the ad-
ministratlon and the latter having the
effrontery-considering his own record
to assail the patriotism of Colonel
Roosevelt.
Interest in the doings of congress
centered on the Chamberlain bill for a
war cabinet, the Introduction of which
was perhaps hastened, though not
caused, by the investigation of Secre-
tary Bakers department. The presi-
dent had ~forcefully, even angrily de-
clared his opposition to the measure
and his absolute confidence in Mr..
Bakers ability and efficiency, and the
defeat of the bill was predicted, al
though it nat the support of many SEN
ators of both parties.
Mr.. Wilson in a public statement ac-
cused Senator Chamberlain Of making
IAN astonishing and absolutely unjus-
tihable distortion of the truth" in Il
New York speech, in which the Ore
war department. In replying to this
in the senate, Mr.. Chamberlain reiter-
ated his charges and undertook to
prove them by citations from the in
vestigation by the senate committee.
The senator scored the war depart
ment numerically, and produced docu.
mentary proof thlt Secretary Baker,
when before the senate committee, was
ignorant of the actual conditions in the
matter of supplies to the army camps.
"The president" he said, ibid not
know the truth. and 1 did. He must
have got his facts from his distinguish
ed secretary of war and he in turn got
them from somebody else, and If those
who furnished the evidence knew the
facts, they lied"
In the course of his speech Mr..
Chamberlain read n heartbreaking let
ter from n father telling IF the death
of his son In an army camp under most
astounding conditions of neglect. AT
terward Secretary Baker said of this
that IL was not a singular case, that
there had been several such due to the
lack of nurses, and that each one had
been rigidly Investigated.
The hot discussion over the inefH.
cheney of our war preparations con
tinues undated and is reaching the
stage where 1t becomes personal and
vicious. The thick lnd-thln support
ers of the administration declare the
critics of some of its acts are border
Ing on treachery because they give
comfort to the enemy, while those who
criticize assert that only by letting the
public know the faults that are being
committed can those faults be correct.
ed. Their course, they hold, is die.
tated by the purest patriotism.
-@-
General Tasker II. Bliss, chief Of
staff, has arrived In Paris to represent
the American army In the supreme
war council. 1t is believed he will urge
that the allies renew offensive opera,
lions or a large scale.