The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-16
.Lef Baker Co., is Demand

!, They were not surprised that Secre-
tary Baker should be quick, agrees
sive, almost challenging in his an
swers to the questions put to him by
members of the senate committee on
military aaiifrs. They knew that al
most since the country went to war
Mr.. Baker has been, expecting and,
in sense. preparing for just such an
! investigation. They knew him as a
trained and expert lawyer, defending
on the stand, himself, his conduct of
| Ills job and his subordinates
| A Reforming Politician.
/ Secretary Baker had some previous
experience in Washington as private
secretary of Postmaster General Will
ison in President Cleveland's cabinet
He has been in politics all his adult
/ life. He is the best type OF high brow.
reforming politician. he knows well
| the intricacies of Washington political
life
1 Soon after this country went to war
Secretary Baker was quoted as declar-
| ing he fully realized that sooner or
! later congress or some other author
ity would attempt to make him 'the
goat and that he intended to see the
attempt was not successful. That atti-
tude of mind is much like that of the
Typical Washington bureaucrat who
spends almost as much time in keeping
I his record clear as he does In getting
things done. 1t is not the temper OF
the great executive, who devotes all
his energies to driving ahead for re-
suits and lets his personal record take
care of itself
Sharpe's Pitiabie Plight
! Major General Sharpe who, as quar-
termaster general. had charge of furns
ishing the armies with clothing and
! tentage, was a pitiable figure on the
witness stand before the senate COM
mittee on military affairs. He didn't
know" couldn't recall" or was "un-
informed"
Nobody ever told him how many sol
diers to prepare clothing for. Some.
times, he said, it took three or four
days for telegram to get to his Of
fee from the office of the adjutant gen.
J, eral in the same building. He had
heard that strikes were delaying the
manufacture of overcoats and other
garments for the army, and he had
mentioned the matter once or twice
4 to somebody in Mr. Bakers office. His
Testimony seemed a complete demon
stration of tragic incompetency and Of
fetal ignorance.
croziers Grave Admissions
! Major General Crozier chief of ord
nance. was a witness of another cali
her He was quick to answer inquiries
with confusing wealth of technical
detail. But it was made plain that
when the United States entered the
war, after nearly three years of the
great conflict, the chief of ordnance
had no plans ready for rifles or ma
chine guns, and that months Of delay
had followed.
/ With these facts before him, with
the urgent request from our army lead
ers in Europe that the two bureau
Gratis to be removed, Secretary Baker
4 voluntarily assumed responsibility, for
most of the delays mentioned, nomi
mated General Crozier for reappoint
ment to his old post, and promoted
both men to serve on the executive
council in the war department.
4 Critics of the secretary declare that
what is needed in such cases is not
SO much kindness and consideration
hut the stern action of a relentless ex
4 ecut1Ve VINO demands results ana re
moves subordinates who fail to get
them The delays and bungling OF
} such bureaucrats might easily endan
ger the lives of American soldiers
What are the personal feelings of a
few old men in comparison?
The evidence of Secretary Baker be
fore the senate committee, men promi
Enent In war work point out, shows
further evidence of his failure as an
J executive About the progress of man
: ufacture of weapons and munitions in
many lines Mr. Baker showed consit
cradle uncertainty and lack of exact
knowledge. He apparently does not
demand the daily, complete and accu
trate reports Of progress which any
trained man, used to handling import
ant projects, would insist be placed or
his desk every morning.
An amiable, sweetnatured and gen
erous optimist is no man to have
charge Of the creation of what is
; planned to be the greatest war ma
. chine in history. AT least that is the
} present Washington verdict as reac
IL.