Evening journal., 1918-01-22
BATTLE BAT TIE CERTAIN OVER
WAR CABINET BILL
onOpensFight byPrand'
in g Chamberlain Attack as
Distortion OF Facts
BAKERS EFFICIENCY
IS DEFENDED

WASHINGTON. Jan. 22-President
Wilson last night replied TO the speech
made by senator Chamberlain, chair
man Of the Senate Military Committee
and advocate Of the bin for the Gre
alton OF a war cabinet at the Security
League luncheon in New York on sat
urday. Later Senator Chamberlain
answered the President, defending the
charges made IN his New York speech.
The Presidents announcement follows
When the Presidents attention was
called to the speech made by Senator
Chamberlain at a luncheon in New
York on Saturday he Immediately in
ulired Of Senator Chamberlain whether
ne had been correctly reported, and
upon sscertaining from the Senator
that he had been, the presiden, felt IL
his duty 10 make the following state
ment:
Senator Chamberlain's statement as
10 the present inaction and Ineffective
ness Of the Government is an astonish-
lns and absolutely unjustifable dis
tortion Of the truth. As a matter Of
fact the War Department has perform
81 a task Of unparalleled magnitude
and difficulty with extraordinary
promptness and efficiency. There have
been delays and disappointments and
partial miscarriage Of plan, all Of
which have been drawn into the fore
ground and exaggerated by the investl-
cations which have been in progress
since the Congress ssembled-investi-
cations which drew indispensable ON
oials from their commands and con-
frihuted a great deal to such delay
and confusion as had inevitably arisen,
but by comparison with what has been
accomplished these 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 Govern
ment has come out Of such criticism
and Investigation. ! understand that
reorganizations by legislation are to be
proposed-l have not been consulted
about them and have learned Of them
only at second hand-but their pro-
posal came after effective measures OF
reorganization had been thoughtfully
and maturely perfected, and inasmuch
as these measures have been the result
ofexperience they are much more likely
than any other 20 be effective II the
Congress will but remove the few
statutory obstacles az rigid depart
mental organization which stand In
heir way.
The legislative proposals have heard
81 would involve long additional delays
and turn our experience into mere lost
motion My association and constant
conference with the Secretary OF War
have taught me TO regard him as one
Of the ablest public officials have ever
known. The country will soon leand
whether he or his critics understand
NE bu-lness in hand
10 add as senator Chamberlain did,
that there Is inefllclency IN every de-
partment and bureau Of the Govern
nent is 70 show such Ignorance Of ac-
tual conditions as 20 make Il impossi-
Bile 10 attach any Importance 10 his
statement ] am bound 10 infer that
that statement spfang out Of opposi-
ton to the ADMINISTRATORS whole pol
10y rather than out OF any serious in
tention 10 reform its practice.
Chamberlain'S Reply.
The answer Of Senator Chamberlain
follows.
IN my New York speech 7 had not
prepsred the address and spoke twenty
minutes extempOraneously without
notes. ! pointed out that from Bunker
Hill Ia the present time we had had no
military organization or policy. The
press report Of my address was correct
But my argument was directed to the
military establishment and not 10 other
departments Of the Government. al
though II was broad enough TO be sub
iect 20 that Interpretation. But those
bearing 10 knew ! referred merely Go
The military establishment, and that the
senate Military Committee had under
taken, through the bills for A War
Cabinet and q Director Of Munitions to
work out charges I'm the establishment.
explained that these bills were not
Administration measures. did not
nlisrepresent them.
Secretary Bakers efforts 90 better his
organization have my utmost appro-
val He has made much Improvement
But the inherent weakness OF his or
sanitation is that nobody between the
srmy and the President has legal au-
thority. There is the Council OF Ma
tional Defence, the War Industries
Board and the Clearance Committee
all purely voluntary organizations
between the President and the army
The War Cabinet and Director OF MUM
fions would be created by law with
definite legal powers and duties, respec-
lively. 10 map out and direct war poll
cies and % have charge Of war sup.
plies. BY this plan we would subsh
tute a strong for the only weak link
IN the chain Of Organization.
I regret very much that the Admins
tratIon Is not with me But | am act.
ing under my oath and will have the
approval OF my own conscience even II
not OF the Administration.
The people are entitled to be let into
The committees confidence. II the PEG
pie don't want II that will be all right
It's their war"