Gunnison news-champion., 1918-03-01
OF SECRETARY
BAKER AMAZES POLITICAS.

Denver LABOR Bulletin.-
Never were carping critics SO COM
pletely confounded and put to rout as
when Secretary of War Baker present
ed his statement, bristling with figures
before the military committee of the
senate. Those aspiring politicans
who sought 10 gain public favor by
attacking President Wilson and his
cabinet are now as silent as the tomb.
The Terrible Teddy" who was in
Washington prepared to make an
ominous drive on congress and the
president, has not been heard from.
Evidently he, too, lost his bomba stic
speech, the only weapon with which he
was ever known to fight. For b. Il
recalled, that when the negro troops
captured San Juan hill, Teddy was six
miles away, yet he has claimed thai As
his personal military victory.
During one entire day, Secret ~
Baker in a calm and dignified way,
related 10 the committee, and throu gh
the committee informed the people Of
this country of the great work that
had been done and is still being done
by the war department. His stat
ments amazed Congress, as 1t did the
entire nation. Baker threw down the
bars Of censorship and spread out 80
everyone could see and know many
important things which heretofo 70
have been held in close confidence of
the president and his cabinet. Sena,-
or Chamberlain, chairman of the con
mIttee. who has been pushing a bill %
crete a separate war cabinet, W.
compelled to admit that he had undo
estimated the capabilities of the seer
tary of the war, and the proposed wa
cabinet is now practically dead issu'
While there was never a momcut
when the great mass of American pco-
pie lacked confidence in the war seer
tary. his comprehensive account Of
stewardship As head Of the war depar.-
ment, has brought even great
measure Of determination among the
people of Americas ability to win thu
war for worldwide democracy.
The fact that 100000 soldiers train
ed and fully equipped soldiers will b"
in France. early during the year, 1919
tmcaninR no doubt that they are al
ready therc) and that 100000 NOR
in the thirty-twO cantonments euuip-
ped and ready to fight will 60 "ovcr
there" this year, has aroused the
greatest enthusiasm among America
patriots. Wonderful indeed was Mr.
Bakers revelation of the work done in
France. building GOO miles of railroad
new docks for landing soldiers and
supplies, virtually building new towns
and atfording every facility essential
to modern warfare, giving compile
and convincing answer to each and
every questionable. He has shown
that America has accomplished NOR
in eight months than was even thoueht
of or even suggested that could beoAc-
complished in that length of time.
His statement must give renewed
courage to Americas associates in the
war and cause the pan-German mill
tarists to tremble at the assurance of
their coming defeat, when the Aymeri-
can army gets into action. as il will
early in the spring. Our
soldiers are now holding a sector on
the French battle line.
Secretary Baker lifted the curtain
and permitted all the people to view
the war scenery, or at least as much
of it as is permissible without giving
information that might afford advant-
age to the Kaiser. He has given US .
new concept Of the fierceness of the
struggle going on behind the lines, in
the laboratories, and in the workshops.
He likewise revealed that in this great
contest brains are of the utmost value
in the struggle for human liberty and
equal opportunity of people.