The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-22
Scion Replies by Saying
His Criticism Referred
Only to Program of
War Department.

Washington. Jan. 21.--President Will
son issued statement tonight char
aetcrixing rs an astonishing and un-
justifiablc distortion OF the truth" as
sertions made by senator Chamberlain
| In n speech AT New York Saturday
concerning inaction ana mefficiency on
| the part OF the government In its war
prepara tlons.
Investigations conducted at the cani-
| tol. the president said had brought TO
| the foreground delays and disappoint-
| nents and had contributed to them by
drawing officials away from their
| work.
Nothing helpful or likely 10 speed or
facilitate the war tasks OF the gov
eminent has come out OF such criti-
! cism and Investigation" he added.
Legislation proposed by the senate
| military committee for the creation OF
a war council and d minister OF mu-
| nitlons. the president declared, had
| come after effective measures of re-
| organization already had been matureIy
perfected.
President Praises Baker.
The president said he regarded Sec
retary Baker as one of the ablest pub
lie officials he had ever known and
that the country soon would learn
WHISTLER he or his critics understood
the business al hand. -
When Senator Chamberlain heard OF
tho nraQi1lnt'u In t,
In reply. saying he had spoken ex.
tsmporansonsly at New York aud that
his criticisms were directed only at
the military department. not mt other
departments OF the government. lie
declared he would press his legislation
In spite OF the presidents opposition.
The statement follows:
Verified Report.
when the presidents attention was
called TO the speech made by Senator
Chamberlain Mt n luncheon In New
York Saturday. he Immediately in
anfred Of Senator Chamberlain wheth-
cr he had been correctly reported, and
upon nscertaining from the senator
that he had been, the president fell II
his duty 10 make the following state
ment:
Senator chamberlain's statement
MS to The present inaction and ineffee-
tiveness Of the government In an an
tonishinK and absolutely unIustifiable
distortion OF the truth. Az n matter
OF fact the war department has per-
formed task OF unparalleled magni-
tude ana difficulty with extraordinary
promptness and efficiency. There
nave been delays and disappointnients
and partial miscarriagcs OF plans, all
OF which have been drawn into the
foreground and exaggerated by the in
vestigations which have been in prog
| ress since the congress assembled
Investigations which drew indlsnens-
| able officials of the department CON
stantly away from their work and Off
GERS from their commands and con-
| tribnted n great deal to such delay and
| confusion as had inevitably arisen.
No Mistakes Repeated.
'But by comparison with what has
been accomplished. thcse things. much
| as they were TO be regretted, were in
| significant, and no mistake has been
made WHICH has been repeated.
Nothing helpful or likely To speed
| or facilitate the war tasks Of the gov
| efnmtnt has come out of such criti-
cism and investigation. | understand
that reorganizations by legislation are
! proposals came after effective meas
suited about them and have learned OF
them only at second hand-but their
rpoosals came after effective meas
| nres OF reorganization had been
theaghtfully and maturely perfected
and inasnuch AZ these measures have
| been the result of experience, they are
much more likely than any other to be
| effective. il the congress- will but re
move the few statutory obstacles of
rigid departmental organization which
stand In their way
Will Show Country.
The legislative proposals, have
! heard. would involve long additional
| delays and turn our experience into
| mere lost motion. Ny association and
constant conference with the secretary
of war have taught me TO regard him
! as one OF the ablest public officials
/ i'tis' '''' hho"H' i'h 'buHNiy Will
! soon learn whether he or his critics
understand the business in hand.
| To add, as senator Chamberlain
did. that there Is inefficiency in every
department and bureau of the govern
ment Is to show such ignorance of ac-
tuai conditions as to make ii impoS-
sible to attach any Importance to his
I, statement. | am bound to infer that
i that statement sprang out OF opposi,
ton TO the administrations whole
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