New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Effort to Blame
Congress for War
Delays Denounced
Departments Should An
swer "For Gods Sake, Hur-
ry," Plea, Says McCumber
[.Staf Corvespondeuce]

WASHINGTON, April ia nation
wide propaganda putting on Congress
the blame for delays and failures in our
war programme was denounced on the
floor of the Senate to-day by Senator
Porter J. McCumber, of North Dakota,
as coming from some source trying to
hide the real responsibility for our
failure to meet our war engagements
by diverting the censure from those
who are responsible for the delay"
Scores Of postcards with "For Gods
Sake Hurry Up!" printed in big type
across the top have been received by
Senator McCumber and other members.
In smaller type it is explained: "This
urgent appeal was the last public utter
ancc Of Joseph II. Choate only three
days before his death. The date-May
IL. l9l1-WaS almost a year ago"
Lines for the signature and address
! Of the sender are provided. On the op-
posite side is space for the name of
member of Congress and "U. S. Cap
ltol, Washington, D. c." Bundles Of
cards were sent into each community
to distribute for mailing All the
sender was required to do was to sign
his name, put in the name of his mem
Der of Congress and place two-cent
stamp on the card.
Mr.. McCumber used card received
from f. G. Chambard, of Valley CITY.
N. d., who included this additional
message: "Our boys are looking to you
to speed up airplancs, ETC." He said he
thinks Mr. Chambard is "but one of
very many honest and patriotic people
who have been mislcd by these false
assertions" meaning that Congress is
responsible for delays, and added he
proposed to tell the truth and "speak
plainly to this gentleman"
"Mr Chambard," Senator McCumber
asked. care you aware that Congress
has voted with alacrity every dollar
asked for by the President or the de-
partments for war purposes?
Are you aware of the fact that un-
limited power has been granted to ex-
pend this money for war purposes?
Are you aware of the fact that
the delay is due to the failure the
shameful failure, in many instances, of
those appointed and empowered to
speed up Observation-Disclosures by the 1e
Administration and not by Congress-
and that, Notwithstanding that these
persons have been spending this money
IN the widest eXtravagance ever
dreamed Of, extravaganza that would
shock and horrify you were Won
present to observe it, as we are. thew
still have been able to spend up to
date only a small part of the enormous
sums appropriated for the most press
ing needs of the country, such as
ships, guns, airplanes, ETC. 2"
Senator McCumber called attention
to huge appropriations for airplanes
and ships: Up to date he said we have
no built planes in France
and "a mere bagatelle of the proposed
number constructed" To date the ac-
complishments in shipbuilding lad not
been "one-tenth of what it should have
been under good management had we |
begun our work immediately"
so your card For Gods saye hurry
up! ought to be sent not to Congress
but to the departments responsible for
the work." the Senator continued "Ifl
you want to help your country say to
hurry up! ''''N
:, Say to the men who are striking, In
the name OF heaven and patriotism, stop
your strikes, stop your Stacking and
produce to the full limit of your abil |
'say to all departments: For Heavens
sake stop burning UP the money raised
~ .""".ioH anu pondS as you nave been |
during the last year.
Say to the War Department: Cease
making thousands upon thousands of
men, who could be lighting for their
country, lieutenants and majors and
coionels and paying them good salaries
to 90 the ordinary work of n file clerk
Say to the men who are threatening
to strike all over the country on May
l because the Governor of California
will not pardon a man found guilty by
jury of one of the Worst crimes com
mitted in this country, the hurlng of
bomb IN procession of innocent
men, women and children, killing sew
eral' lnJurIng othcrs-say to these
men: For Gods sake don't go on
strike for such an ignobIe cause"