The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-07-19
TAFT CALLS FOR
c. 0. P. CONGRESS-
TO AID WILSON
Former President Points Out
Way for Best Cooperation,

SARATOGA SPRINGS. n. Y. July
pa call by William Howard Taft to
the country TO elect this fall a rspub.
llean congress, which he declared would
stimulate the democratic president by
Offering constructive criticism Of the
administration, action and inaction
and. by legislation. enlarge the nations
military preparations, was issued nv
thc former president, addressing the IN
official republican state convention
here TODAY
Rei'~r?'ing his advocacy of an army
ol SWOWO men Mr. Taft told the del.
eIatc' that now /, the time TO raise the
great force needed to win the war. With
democratic eongrcss, waiting the
presidents lead rather than co-ordinat
inr With The executive. he said. ihi,
viii ~, be accomplished with the
p.omntneSs which is imperative.
While conceding the masterful ability
OF the president in stating the coun-
t'y's aims in the war. Nj Taft asserted
that the administration has not had the
saiNe success in forming practical war
policies. He criticized also the tend.
etcy Of the administration to ALLOW
| party considerations too much sway in
It's appointment, 10 important tasks"
ID declared that politics hl, not been
/ adjourned" a, indicated by what h
tomed presidential interference in the
t-ry affairs OF Wisconsin and Michi-.
gtn
War Cots None.
The former president said in part
I'VE must admit that 70 change a
| peace loving democracy like ours into
one which shall make effective modern
war on a huge scale, is no easy task
There must be waste of money, effort
and time IN such transition Much
has been done by the administration
aud well done We should not minim-
lle IN any degree the credit due to II
for Our conscription law 1t was in
dispensablc 10 carry on this war II
could not have passed but for the ef-
forts of the president and the repubi-
can minority
Halt in Adopting Policies.
The presidents message and sd-
dresses have been great in declaring
our moral aims in the war. In fran
ing practical policies for carrying out
our high purposes, however, the ad
mnistration has not achieved the same
success. There is always a halt and a
hesitation in adopting the necessary
course finally entered upon
while we were mediating BY mes
sage in the field OF open diplomacy
with the German and Austrian peoples.
our transportation OF troops wa slow
and in small numbers and seemed TO
uindicate the view OF those. who CON
tended that the transfer OF million oi
Americans to France in any reasonable
time was impossible.
ri Army Bill Delayed.
The army appropriation bill OF last
winter was. held up for more than two
months, in order that the secretary of
war might visit the war fronts and
gain a clearer idea OF the situation
there and bring back a definite policy.
When he returned he appeared before
the committee In the house and SEN
ate and gave them an account OF his
trip. hut instead Of bringing back
definite plan OF action. he asked for
more time to consider.
"The western drive was then on II
presented. as nothing else could, the
Immediate danger Of breaking through
the allied line The allies called upon
the administration for aid and pressed
the necessary shipping upon us And
thus we have now landed million men
in France"
Berates Draft Age Defeat
The former president described here
the defeat in congress by the admins
tation forces Of legislation to extend
the draft age limits 'whict, he declared,
would have provided promptly and
without hardship upon dependent fami-
lies, the army Of "at least 100000 men"
urged by the minority leaders. He con-
tinued:
What Is needed, then, to help this
administration most is coordinate
branch OF the government with power
and responsibility in fighting this war,
which will perform two functions The
first is that OF constructive criticism
Of administrative action or inaction.
The second function Is by law to en-
large our military preparations at once,
50 that they shall clearly be adequate
to our declared national purposes"
-------W.as.----
Is my son getting well grounded In
the classics1" asked q millionaire.
Il would put il even stronger than