New-York tribune., 1918-01-25
What Really Matters

In its personal aspects the controversy
berlain is exceedingly regrettable. 1t is
likely to develop friction of an unpleasant
sort at time when cooperation between
the Executive and Congress is more than
ever necessary. 1t may help to revive the
destructive spirit of factionalsm and par
tisanship, happily buried at the beginning
Of the war (for since war was declared
there has not been a single division in
Congress on war measures along Demo-
cratic Republican or Administration anti
Administration lines).
The question whether Mr.. Chamberlain
went too far in his original charge that
the machinery of the government had
broken down Che has since modified
it so as to cover only the governments
military activities) or whether the Presi-
dent went too far in saying that Mr.. Cham
berlan distorted the truth is matter
which the public would gladly see dropped.
1t is not wise or profitable to pursue such
as looking at one side of the shield and
ignoring the other. We can make better
progress in prosecuting the war by looking
fairly at both sides.
Every one knows that there has been
q considerable break down in our military
machinery. The degree of inefficiency
exhibited is the only thing really in dis
pute Since there have been definite and
established deficiencies in preparation, it
is not the part of craftsmanship either
to exaggerate them or to try to conceal
them They can be repaired tc better
advantage if the country discovers just
where the failure was and who was to
blame for it. In his zeal for remedial
measures Mr.. Chamberlain, speaking eX-
temporaneously, may have overstressed
the War Departments shortcomings.
That was a fault But it is an even
greater fault to insist that the public
should take nothing but rose colored
view of the situation, as Secretary Baker
suggested by his often fippant testimony
before the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs. And in ndorsing the Baker
view the President committed himself to
"a policy which must ALLEVIATE public SYM
pathy and make it all the easier for
critics to neglect what the Administra-
ton has really accomplished, while con-
centrating their fire on failures which it
is futile to deny.
Senator Chamberlain's main charges
cannot be brushed away either by Mr..
Bakers testimony or by the Presidents s
indignant protests. The facts Of non-pre-
paredness and of inadequate preparl IN
remain. The armies are not properly SIP
piled. We have had to lean on France
much too heavily for heavy guns, light
guns, machine guns, ammunition and
labor behind the lines. In the canton
ments here the equipment is insufficient.
There is not enough heavy clothing.
There have not been enough rifles SAM
tary arrangements have not been first
class. If we had merely the say-so of Mr..
Chamberlain to establish these dehcien-
cles and there was nothing in view but
an issue between his testimony and the
testimony of Mr.. Baker and the presi-
dent the Administration might hope to
check dissatisfaction by handing out re-
. assuring statements.
But the trouble is that behind Mr.. Cham
berlaln's knowledge lies the personal. in
innate knowledge of the fathers mothers.
wives and sisters of the men in the home
camps, whose letters have carried informo-
ton as to the real state of affairs into
every city, town or hamlet in the country
The relatives of the men in the camps do
not have to depend on what the Senator
from Oregon says, or on what the Secrc
tary OF War says, or even on what the
President says. They have their own d.;
rect and sufficient knowledge.
1t is with this knowledge that Washing-
ton has to reckon. A country wide opinion
mas already been created which reflects :,
marked dissatisfaction with the achieve
ments of the War Department. 1t is not
interested especially in the controyersv
between the President and the Senator
from Oregon But it is deeply interested
in bringing about changes in the war-mak
ing machinery which will overcome tho
errors of the past. 1t is too late to trv to
gloss over those errors. They must be ad
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