The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-02-01
Washington Letter.
GARFIELD ORDER ENDS
CONGRESSIONAL COMA

SoiHS hNe-nonCnS perlOu OI Ierfnen-
tation Professor Harry Garfield, late
of Williams College, U. S. fuel ad-
ministrator, blew off the dome of the
National Capitol and stood the sur
mounting statue of Freedom on her
head with his imperial ukase TO all
industries east of the Mississippi to
rake fires and silence wheels.
In the history of our country no
such dictatorial use of power was
ever before exhibited, nor will it be
again if Congress preseveres in its
determination henceforth to have some
voice in the war activities of the
United States. The Garfield order,
sanctioned and backed by the Presi-
dent, brought to the entire country a
stunning realization of what disaster
can be wreaked upon it by academic
theorists drunk with power forced
from hitherto obsequious legislature
by ruthless fogging with the knout.
Congress, which. has been unjustly
blamed for delay and decentralization
growing out of brawling bureau
cracy, which has tamely submitted to
torrents of abuse from a misinformed
! public and press, which has time and
again delegated all too freely of its
powers to central authority, is now
beginning to find itself-to appreci-
ate it's own Importance in war
against an autocracy whose roots have
penetrated the soil of Germany and
have been spreading over the United
States.
One of the first evidences of Con-
gressional reassertion of equality as
a coordinate branch of Government, in
the Senate, at least, will probably be
the early passage over the Presidents
remonstrance, of the bill providing for
a Department of Munitions, which will
take over the work of the tangled Of
ficialdom in Washington, straighten
out the kinks and put it on smooth
er running basis under a Secretary
who will be the reference point for
responsibility. This may later be fol-
lowed by the organization of Con-
gressional Joint Committee on the
Conduct Of the War, which will be the
conduct Of information and advice be-
tween the executive and the legisla-
tive. The refusal of the chief execu-
tive to pay the slightest attention to
the Senate's request for fve-day re-
spite in the taking effect of Garfeld's
paralyzing order strengthens the de-
sire in Congress for a committee Of
this kind. Had it been in existence
/ at the time that order was in contem-
plation the country would have had
warning of the shock to come if it
had come at all.
Nor would any such smothering
blanket order affecting water-power
and mills already supplied with coal,
have been issued with the sanction of
the joint committee. What particular
species of imbecility prompted the
closing of such mills it is folly to haz-
ard; unless, as has been suggested in
some quarters, it was part of the en-
tire scheme to give the over-burdened
director of railroads, and avid aspir-
ant for the Democratic presidential
nomination in 1920, chance to make
good, and fear of the charge of favor
itism made it seem expedient to en-
brace all industry in this gas-cloud
edict.
The Garfield order was calamitous;
it was unjustifable; it has alienated
many of the Presidents friends; it
has retarded war activities; it has dis
couraged business, so generous in
helping on the cause; it will have a
disastrous effect on crops depending
on this years output of harvesting
machinery; it has thrown all industry
out of gear; the laborers who have
suffered from it have not been able
to buy coal, and the coal distribution
promised has not been achieved. But
the order has brought Congress to its
senses, and that is something
No one will fail to appreciate the
motives which prompt men and women
to make long trips to visit their sons,
brothers, husbands or sweethearts who
are in training at the various mill
tary camps throughout the United
States. Nor will anyone be lacking in
understanding of the desire of the
soldiers to get furloHgh that per-
mits them to visit their homes. The
feeling of affection and personal in
terest which prompts visits of this
kind is not only virtue in the indi-
vidual but is a necessary bond in an
advancing social organization. We
are in this war to fight in defense of
those we love. We feel deep concern
for the welfare of the loved ones who
are enduring the priyations, the hard
ships and the dangers Of the war. But
it must not be forgotten that every
person who travels unnecessarily
these days is taking that much of the
transportation capacity of the railroad
and is hindering in corresponding de-
gree in the shipment of commodities
for the use Of our soldiers and the ar
mics of our allies.
In view of the many reports they
were getting of unsatisfactory condi-
tions at the training camps, it is i'm