New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-02-01

way III NllltIl lHc 0CEllluIlS tICut
terms OF peace, so far as they concern
Belgium itself, are absolute political,
economic and territorial independence,
equitable reparation and guarantees
for the future.
The British labor party In owen
ton ut Nottingham declared its posi-
ton in the matter Of war and peace.
A resolution was adopted welcoming
ana indOrsing the statements of Prem
Ter Lloyd George and President Wilson
and calling on the central powers to
formulate their war aims ut 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.
~
Fuel Administrator Garfield's indus
trial shutdown was far from being
wholly successful in relieving the coal
shortage and railway tie-up. For 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, forbldding 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 1t has done
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 nd
ministration and the latter having the
neutrality-suspicious. 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 FASTENED. though not
caused, by the investigation of Secre-
tary Bakers department. The presl.
dent had forcefully, even angrily de-
his opposition to the
md his absolute confidence In Mr..
Bakers ability and efficiency. and the
defeat Of the bill was predicted, al
it had the support of many sen.
ators of both parties.
Mr.. Wilson in a public statement &C.
FUSED Senator Chamberlain Of making
astonishing and absolutely unjus-
tiiable distortion of the truth" In a
York speech. in which the Ore
sOn senator told Of the failures Of the
war department. In replying to this
the senate, Mr.. Chamberlain reiter-
lted his charges and undertook to
them by citations from the in
by the senate committee.
The senator scored the war depart
nent numerically, and produced dOcu.
nentary proof that Secretary Baker,
when before the senate committee, was
gnorant of the actual conditions In the
of supplies to the army camps.
The president" he said, did not
the truth, and I did. He must
got his facts from his distinguish
ID secretary of war and he In turn got
hem from somebody else, and IL those |
Who furnished the evidence knew the
acts, they lied"
In the course Of his speech Mr..
read a heartbreaking let
er from a father telling Of the death
# his son In an army camp under most
.stOunding conditions of neglect. AZ
erward Secretary Baker said of this
hat It was not a singular case, that
here had been several such due to the
nck Of nurses, and that each one had
cen rigidly Investigated.
The hot discussion over the inefn-
iency Of our war preparations con-
inues undated and is reaching the
tage where II becomes personal and
icious. The thlck-and-thin support
RS of the administration declare the
Of some OF its acts are border
ne on treachery because they give
omfort to the enemy. while those who
riticize assert that only by letting the
ublic know the faults that are being
can those faults be correct.
d. Their course. they hold, is die
ated by the purest patriotism.
-
General Tasker H. Bliss, chief Of
taft. has arrived in Paris to represent
he American army in the supreme
ar council. 1t is believed he will urge
hat the allies enc offensive opera
Ions on a large scale.