American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-29
Government Not Frank

If the government would be frank
with the people, then we could rely up
on the people to rally to the support
of the war" he added.
Great Britain" he said, did NOT
waste time manufacturing guns. The
United States could have adopted the
same kind of a rifle as used by Eng
land as plants of this country were
equipped for manufacturing them"
he said.
But while the house burns" he
shouted, America determines trough
the ordnance bureau what instrument
talities are to be adopted" He con-
ceded that the rifle as finally adopt
ed was an improvement over the Brit
ish gun, but declared it took days and
months to perfect After the engin-
GERS OF various gunmaking plants had
been consulted, a gun finally was
agreed upon for the American army.
but the ordnance bureau, through a
very distinguished officer ordered
that the number of parts be increased.
which added to the delay.
Why shouldn't America know these
things" the senator demanded. Some
people in the west, he said. believed
@4e oAA a AOtdDs
IF they only knew the actual condi-
%tions," he said, they would give their
lives, their all, to protect America.
Casual reading of the secretary of
wars statement gives the impression
that we had everything. But when
we get the testimony of the men on the
ground, different Information is OBJ
tanned.
Civilians Save Government
Citing the testimony of an army Of
ficer from Camp Bowie, Tex, who de-
clared there was not a single trench
mortar there, and that other necessary
equipment was lacking, Senator Cham
berlain declared: THAT is true of ev-
cry camp in the United States. If it
hadn't been for the civilian people who
have come here and given their time
and service we wouldn't have been
anywhere"
turning to the qu-artermaster gen
erals department, Senator Chamber
lain declared that from Secretary Ba-
kers general statement the country
would believe that everything was
lovely and the goose hung high so
tar as clothing was concerned.
But when you talk to the men
that command these boys you find it
isn't there" he continued. On a per
capita basis it is there, but not when it
comes to effective elaboration. they
simply haven't got the clothing"
Senator Chamberlain said he pro-
posed to show by Secretary Bakers
own testimony that the secretary did
not know of actual clothing conditions.
ffIhaf lE univ cor~f ~ l.. o--4.-..-1
that the president did not know the
truth. And l did. He must have got
ten his facts from the secretary. who
III turn got them from somebody else
and somebody else must have lied.
And that's why l say the president has
not been given the truth.
Il feel it my duty to my country and
my conscience to tell the truth. l have
no fear of God, man or the devil when
my conscience prompts. And no man
In the country can keep me from tell
ing the truth. The only fear is that
this discussion may have a bad effect
on the country. But if the conditions
exist they ought to be corrected and
quickly. Great Britain found the same
conditions and corrected them quick
ly. So did France"
Photographs Exhibited
Senator Chamberlain passed around
among senators photographs of wooden
machine guns, rifles and heavy ord
nance used at cantonments and asked
the senators to study them carefully.
Ihey are of some USE" he ex-
planned, lin training men. But if I
mad a boy training for the battlefield
would not want him training with
nothing else than a wooden cannon. F"
England and France, he said. saw
the mistake of having artillery men
control the ordnance department.
o must go to men who have done
these things to get results" he said
And congress should face this with
out e of any man, but with due re-
gard for the distinguished commander
in chief"
The commander at Camp Sherman
ONO, told him there was a shortage or
1000 o~vercoats there. He referred the
statement to Secretary Baker.
In his usual placid way, he said.
that's not true, " remarked the sena-
tor. W
Senator Chamberlain read from a
letter from Secretary Baker saving q
later report showed 1000 ~overcoats
We're needed at Camp Sherman. but
that they were in course of ship
ment.'
That's the way ever since the wa,
started in course but not getting
there he shouted.
Chart Placed in Record
Then placing in the record a chart
submitted to the military ommitta
by Secretary Baker showing short
ages Of material at camps VARYING
from to ninety per cent, Mr.. Cham
berlain declared he wished that con
dltlon to become known to the people
i want it shown whether l distorted
the truth when l said the military svs-
tenn mad broken down." said he.
Reading from the table to show
shortages of overcoats running as
nlsh as 20 per cent, the senator re-
minded tho cauota ~. -