Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-15

(Senator Chamberlain, of oregon,
DemocraD, and the committee itself
and by calling to the White House
many Democratic party leaders, not
for consultation purposes, but to in
sist that a discussion of this question
on the floor of the Senate be pre-
vented if possible. Have we come
to such pass that the action of the
most important committee in Con-
gress at this time is to be forbidden
by the PRESIDENT
referring to Secretary Baker, Sen
ator Weeks said, after praising
many Army achievements:
Neither do l wish to unjustly
or unreservedly criticise the head of
the War Department. He has had
to deal with multitude of ques-
uons, the disposal of many of which
meets my approval. 1t would re-
quire too much time to enumerate.
Ihe Secretary has done that effec-
lively III his speech made to the
committee January 2S.
Too Many Irons in Fire
III were to criticise the Secre-
tary personally, it would be that he
mas undertaken to do too many
thlngs himself, some of which might
nave been left to Subordinates. If |
were to make a further criticism. il
would relate to his temperamental
relationship to the war. Doubtless
ne himself would admit that he is a
pacliist by nature. For example,
even now he is opposed to universal
military training, and L cannot di-
Norce myself from the conclusion,
paseu on his own testimony, that
ne mas been inclined to plan for
prosecution OF the war-and this
coh9ltlon has to some degree perme-
atea the department-on the basis
that we are 5000 miles away from
the front, instead of fastening prep
afatlon with all the vigor we would
exercise If our borders were the bat
tlefront"
referring to Mr.. Bakers reply
when asked by the committee if
otner men could not have done
thlnSs better, that he did not know
all the men in the world and could
not Judge their capabilities, Senator
weeks said the answer was some
What fllppant' and that it is impos-
slble to expect a department whose
head makes such a statement to
make many changes which an out
slde investigation has shown to be
necessary"
Attack Bitter
one of the notable features of
the present situation" Senator
weeks contended, lis the virulence
used in attacking those who favor
tne committees plan of centraliza-
uoh' Ihey are referred to as plot
terS, mlSchlevous meddlers and even
as servitors of the enemy. Every
means of false suggestion has been
USED TO discredit sincere and loyal
attempt to make a change which
VIII materially increase the eff
cheney OF our war administration.
Asserting that it is physically
impossible for the President to in
dlNlduallN coordinate and direct all
OF the Governments functions. SEN
ator Weeks added:
would Not EmbaITaSs President
can 1t be possible the President
will be embarrassed by such a cab
met 1t would seem as if he would
pc embarrassed to greater extent
DE a perpetuation of the disiointed
system which now exists, a system
Wnlch 1alled to produce ships, not
Wlthstanding the shipping plans;
which has failed to deliver coal. not
Wlthstanding the unbounded coal
supply we have; which has been re-
sponslble for failure to protect our
soldiers against sickness and furnish
them with suitable clothing.
I'VE are the inventors and lead
ers in airplanes and vet we have no
airplanes. We have the greatest
steel works in the world, and vet
we nave few guns. We lead the
world in automobile manufacture,
and yet we are just commencing to
obtain motortrucks: and, worst of
al, the system we have is RESPONSE
BILE for camp hospitals not having
neat, water or sewerage"
Praises General Crozicr
Furnishing of food to the Army.
Senator Weeks said, had been a "tre-
mendous success due to General
Sharpe" He also praised General
Crozier, chief of ordnance. saving he
had often asked Congress for more
ordnance appropriations but that
sentiment in the country prevented
appropriations. General Crozier
however, he declared, was partly re-
sponslble for deficiencies in machine
guns and light ordnance.
Reliance upon France for ord
nance and other materials, he. said.
was very doubtful wisdom" and the
powder situation was described as
acute, with half of American pro-
ductlon under contract to the allies
and our total capacity not half of
our needs"
Aviation work, the Senator con-
ceded, has been carried out intelli-
gently and Systematically
while the actual number of ma
chimes constructed" he said. does
not compare favorably with impress
sions given the public, it is repre-
sented that production will be very
rapid"
Although praising efforts of the
War Department toward reorganiza-
tion. Senator Weeks said Edward
r. Stettinius, the civilian surveyor
of purchases, is in an impossible
position" and that the administra-
tion is throwing away an opportu-
nifty to make an effective organiza-
tion" by rejecting the plan for mu-
nitions director
Threshermen Close Annual
Convention hv EnJo-.:rr