American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-29
ITO be c%ontinued.)
SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN REPLIES
TO LETTER OF PRESIDENT
Charges that the President Does Not
Know the Facts. and That War De-
partment Has Broken Down.

man OF the Military Affairs Commit
tee. replied to President Wilson's
statement that he had distorted the
facts in charging that the government
had broken down in its war
lions.
Senator Chamberlain detailed in his
speech what he declared was proof of
army inefficiency. He asserted that
not only was the president ignorant
OF the truth about conditions, but that
Secretary Baker was also misled.
challenging the senate and the country
10 inquire and then deny his asser-
tions. Despite the presidents op-
position he declared the committees
army investigation would proceed.
For twenty-four years." Senator
Chamberlain said, Il have served the
public in my state to the best of my
ability and in all hat time have new
er had my ~veracity called in question
nor my integrity impeached, and l
a V passed through some bitter am
paigns. 1t is, therefore, with some
feeling of humiliation and also sadness
that rise to a question of personal
privilege when my veracity has been
called in question, not by an ordinary
citizen, lot by one Of my colleagues
but by a very distinguished gentle
man, who has the love and admiration
OF the people and who by their suf-
rage occupies the highest place OF
any man in the world.
Nov that my tr%uthfulness has been
questioned" Senator Chamberlain
continued, Il feel it my duty to tell
the country something | might not
nave told it under ordinary circum-
stances. | do it as a man who loves
ms country best of all and who would
Willingly give his life for it. l do it
i~earlessly as an American citizen who
desires TO help and not to hinder.
owing to the great rush of bust
ness due to the war the president has
probably not been able to ascertain
the truth. From the lips of those
closest to the president. the chief ex-
ecutive cannot learn the truth. not be-
cause his advisers desire to mislead
him, but because they are situated in
the same position as he is.
The secretary of war in a general
statement to the country, which was
carefully and ably prepared, tells us
that 5000, 100000 have been appro-
prlated for the the ordnance depart
ment that contracts for $1,677 600
700 nave been awarded" he continued
rms is true, but the secretary failed
10 tel the country that America failed
to stand prepared.
France, bled white he continued
Is furnishing America today and the
troops going abroad with heavy ord
nance and machine guns and air
planes. If we relied on the ord
nance department in the emergency
the war would be completed before we
ever got enough to go to he front
france agreed to deliver the artillery
10 win America? Did she furnish If
IN order to invite America?
III was improper, he said to give de-
talis or American purchases of ord
nance from the allies. but referred SEN
ators TO the confidential testimony he
Iore the committee by Major General
Crozier, chief of ordnance.
II the administration had wanted
TO be fair to the American people" he
shouted, why didn't the distinguished
secretary OF war let the people know
so ihat the people could assist in get
.ihg ready for this terrible calamity
mat contronts not only America. but
tire world?" u
senator Chamberlain said that the
ordnance bureau failed in 1915 to nre-
pare FOR war when it seemed certain
mere were omens in the sky" he
continued. that America could nor
keep out. What was the ordnance de-
partment doing? Nothing. II was w.
ing supinely on its back. not makins
cages for ordnance nor discovorinS
lhe possibilities of manufacturing bur
doing nothing. absolutely notbing"
appropriations for for jigs and dies
been used. NY
am not blaming anybody in par
tlcular the senator continued. Il
nave hlgh regard for General Crozier.
BUT we haven't been able to do what
England. France and all the other ma
IONS nave done. and that is to retire
these gentlemen who have not proven
themselves up to the mark. We ought
not To dismiss them in disgrace. but in
other countries they have gone into
innocuous desuetude.
This isn't a question of personali-
ties. America and every man ought 70
make Il his whole purpose to see thar
america is saved.
Take the machine gum" said the
senator. 1T is an old controversy
and much may be said on both sides.
Inc Lewis gun has been manufactured
mere Tor the British army and there
are fV'OO0 OF them on the battle front.
Every British officer 1 have seen has
expressed approval OF that gun.
America was prepared to produce
them, but. with the country standing
on a seething volcano, the ordnance
department was trying to decide on
q gun. The war department didn't
even adopt a gun until May and finally
adopted it in June (1917), l believe.
ana then only on paper. and it still is
a gun on paper. 1t never has had a
Held test. Maybe the Browning gun
Is q good weapon. but the Lewis u
Is doing the work. Why not manufac-
ture the Lewis gun?
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