Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-22
Why EXPERIMENT.?

There seems to be q very denn!pE
understanding with regard to the
question Of obtaining supplies for the
army and untangling the maze OF REQ
tape which in the past has served the
purpose Of barbed wire barricade
eeparating the various government
DEPARTMENTS and interposing itself De
tween most of them and any semo
lance Of business like activity.
There IL not a definite agreement
but there Is definite understanding
Everybody who has expressed an
opinion on the conditions which have
prevailed in the war department, ex'
can't those responsible for those con
ditions, agrees that they called for q
RADICAL change. Secretary Baker. IN
his glowing statement before the sen
ate committee, insisted that the de'
partment had done its work IN ex'
cellent manner, but under questioning
he admitted that there was much
room for improvement and that tnere
was much information about the De
partment and its attafrs which he was
unable to supply.
He attempted to defeH any attempt
at the creation Of supreme war
council or a minister of munitions by
his reorganization plan, and although
this has had no opportunity to prove
its worth he expresses entire conn
dence in its capability.
So much for Mr.. Baker. Now for
the understanding.
Daniel Willard. retiring chairman OF
the war industries board; Director
Gffford Of the council Of national de.
Tense: Waddill Catchings, chairman OF
the war inquiry committee OF the
United States Chamber of Commerce;
all the members of the senatorial COM
mittee and several millions OF pr1vate
citizens are convinced that Mr.. Baker
has made exactly the sort OF mess OF
things that a pacifist might be ex-
pected to make II chosen to organize,
equip and direct a gigantic army in
the greatest OF history's wars.
It develops that, in addition to the
general ineficiency which exists and
has existed for some years In the war
department, there is distinct bar to
coordination among the various activ-
tiles of the government. This Is not
Mr.. Bakers fault; the bar was there
before he was born. 1t is to be re-
GREETED, however, that he closes his
eyes to it's existence.
It is dificult to understand why so
much argument must be expended In
Washington just now, when time is
20 valuable, to bring about a rather
simple and very necessary change In
the governments machinery. Every.
one except those who would lose some
of their prestige and prerogatives
agrees that the nation needs mum.
lions minister or some similar Official
tho title is Of no consequence--and
the same degree Of unanimity is ap-
parent in the opinion that supreme
war coxncil is needed to prevent con-
flict between departments and to CO.
ordinate their various activities.
Whatever progress we may have
made or may make in the future with
out ministry Of munitions and war
council has been or will be made not
because such an organization does not
exist but in spite Of its absence.
The task before America and all
Americans is difficult enough even If
Ae best facilities we're available.
FAILURE to adopt an improvement with.
out delay simply makes the job more
diflcult and the result more in doubt.
The public is rapidly approaching the
point where it will regard that failure
with even less equanimity and pa.
thence than it has exhibited thus far.