El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-06
WAR CABINET AGITATION USELESS
NOW; ONLY FRICTION CAN RESULT

1.-THE fight which senators of the military affairs COM
mittee are making for cabinet and secretary
= Of munitions is wasted effort The word snow
Is used deliberately for the agitation has wrung from the
administration concession made in the appointment OF
Edward Stetnius former purchasing agent for the allies
surveyor Of munitions with functions similar those
Of munitions director. Having achieved about much
possible the senators might well let the conflict die
out for there VIII be no secretary Of munitions with eab
net rank and the only cabinet will be triumYirate
comprising president Wilson secretary of Baker, and
secretary Of the navy Daniels these aided by secretary Of
the treasury McAdoo
Not but that director of munitions and war cabinet
needed cabinet unhampered by departmental
routine the three above named there is great need
for them But until president Wilson to the
necessity for them they cannot be established And if
they established conditions would be than be-
fore because Of his opposition Harmony under the pres
sent imperfect system is better than friction and conflict
under the proposed plan It is impossible to delegate
cabinet all the powers Of the president and the
secretaries Of and navy 5nder any division of author
iy there must be harmony Of action progress in the
In dual control airpIane the two who it
must harmonic their steering movements or there is
President Wilson and his cabinet are firmly even bit
terry opposed TO cabinet and munitions director of
cabinet rank They feel such creation would hamper
them and be equivalent to vote OF confidence in their
conduct Of the They refuse to in the proposal
desire TO help them conduct the They do not view
the act Of helpful patriotism.
That being their attitude nothing would be gained by
forcing these measures upon them If that posi-
bs which il is not because of the presidents influence
congress. The time may when Mr.. Wilson may
that the best be made by small group of
who have nothing else to intrude their time and
organization Until then nothing must be done to put the
heads Of the government working at purposes in
spirit Of hostility, group toward the other.
As for the appointment of Mr. Stettinius surveyor
Of munitions that is obviously attempt by the presi
dent and secretary Of to meet the very general de-
nand for munitions director. He is supposed to have
powers Of direction tie production and distribution of
all supplies and ordnance The weakness of the plan lies
the fact that he has constitutional legal standing
He has authority in his position. The council of de-
has had authority and neither has the surveyor
Of munitions
Mr. Stettiuius Is highly As purchasing agent for
the entente allies he made fine record He has the ability
and the experience for real munitions director He
under consideration for that very post by senators Cham
beran Hitchcock others Of the senate military affairs
committee when, after hearing most copous testimony
relative to the bundes and defects in preparation
they set about deVsng the legislation which to prove
q remedy.
But he to his duties badly handicapped He
devise and invent but he cannot compel Winston
Spencer Churchill EngIands munitions director, order
army Of building craftsmen and put up great war
factory in so days. surrounding It with complete town
house the workers He then procure machinery for
the plant and have It installed and when that is done be
can move complete force Of operatives either by
cuiing them here and there by transferring the entire
working force from another plant If he chooses He does
n0t-csnnot-daWde for nine months the construc
ton Of powder factory as government has done He