New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
Senator Declares New Cab
met Bill Is Result of SEN
ate Investigation
Seeks Wilson Support
Military Affairs Chairman
Believes Job Is Too Big for
Even the President

Senator George E. Chamberlain,
chairman Of the Senate Military Af-
fairs Committee, spent yesterday in
New York City. In addresses before
the National Security League and the
Republican Club, the Senator declared
that the bill creating war cabinet, to
be reported in the Senate tomorrow,
was direct result of the invcstiga-
tion Of the Military Committee into
the conduct Of the war;" and was framed
to save an america, cropping in the
dark for tho last ten months" and
still unprepared, still without a def
mite war programme, and still without
trained men,"
The Senator, in his addresses, which
he amplified later in an interview, sail
that the military establishment of
America had fallen down; that it had
almost stopped functioning Why?
Because Of inefficiency in every bureau
and in every department of the gov
crnment Of the United States"
He admitted that though he was one
OF the Senator'S who voted to sustain
the mandate of Fuel Administrator
Garfield, in "his humble opinion. there
would have been no fuel crisis if we
had had a definite war programme
mapped out six months ago." But he
voted to sustain the measure, Senator
Chamberlain added, because he had
been told that "127 ships in New York
Harbor needed coal to carry supplies
to our boys and our allies, and though
| didn't think the measure wise,
placed life above property"
Calls Washington Discouraging
The situation at Washington was not
always rosy, Senator Chamberlain said.
sometimes get pessimistic. It's
aaw1ully dlscouraging when you are
through discussing a measure and are
ready to vote on it to have other men
rush in just in time for the vote and
defeat your efforts. There is only one
way to reach such men and that is to
defeat them at the polls"
"Thc bills creating a director of mu-
nltlons and war Cabinet" sad the
Senator at the Republican Club, "are
ere American measures, and are 70 Law
out what we have not had since 1914,
and haven't nova programme to
carry on this war to a successful con-
clusion.
"Men have told me, you are discred-
iting your Administration by the in
vestigations you figure i'm don't care
a hoot: If there is anything wrong
with the Administration, of which |
happen to be part, the best friend of
that Administration is the man who
shows its weaknesses and inefficencies
The people have right to know
they are not making their sacrifices
in vain. That's what the Senate is
gong to- make sure of. In reorganiza-
tlons, unfortunately some incompetents
are being. kicked into higher places,
but, happily, they can do no harm. We
want young blood efficiency in every
arm of the government.
'Whole System Wrong"
"The trouble is lack of coordina-
ton, for which the Administration is
not to blame. The system, a hundred
years old, is wrong. When man
starts anything, he needs a tank to
go over the rec tape he finds himself
lost in.
Gas for President Wilson, / have the
profoundcst respect for him. He is
the premier of tho statesmen of all
the world. But neither Mr.. Wilson
nor any one man can do everything.
There must be responsible men under
him to speed up Americas war pro-
gramme.
I'VE are fighting for our existence.
| think the German who said the Kaiser
meant to come here and make us pay
for the war was telling the truth. I
have no assurances that the war will
not come to our shores yet.
No Definite Programme
ave haven't had any definite war
programme. We have none TODAY.
And yet, think that back in 1914 any
man able to visualize the struggle over
seas must have known that eventually
VIC would be drawn into it,
1--WE need to arouse ourselves. There
is danger in the pacifst talk in some
states. 1t may yet defeat the prepared
ness movement. And God help US if
it does"
The Senator declared that the Senate
Military Committee was hopeful of
winning the support of the Administra-
tlon to the War Cabinet bill
Former Members of
Cabinet in Favor of