The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-26
President in Statement Says
LaWmaker Distorted Truth
in New York Speech.
DEFENDS SECRETARY BAKER
Legislation Proposed by Senate Com
mittee for War Council Had Come,
Executive Says, After Effec-
tive Measures of Reorgan-
ization Had Been Per-
fected.

ing as an astonishing and unJustina-
BILE distortion of the truth" assertions
of Senator Chamberlain in New YORK
speech Saturday concerning lnefhcieh-
cy of war preparations
Wilson Issues Statement.
The following statement was issued
from the White House:
When the presidents attention was
called to the speech made by Senator
Chamberlain at luncheon In New
York on Saturday he Immediately IN
quired of Senator Chamberlain wheth-
er he had ben correctly reported, ana
upon ascertaining from the senator
that he had been, the president felt
1t his duty to make the following state
ment:
Senator Chamberlain's statement
as to the present inaction and effective
ness of the government is an astonlsn-
ing and absolutely unjustifiable dlstor-
tion of the truth.
"As q matter Of fact, the war depart
ment has performed task of unparal-
leled magnitude and difficulty with ex-
traordinary promptness and efficiency.
There has been delay and disappoint-
ment ana partial miscarriage of plans,
alI III sehle lsage peen 6gasssl iHtQ ms
II sss II sssaiaai
yestigations which have been progress
|. sing since congress assembled--inves-
tigations which drew Indispensable Of.
fcials IF the department constantly
away from their work and officers from
their commands and contributed q
great deal to such delay and confusion
as had inevitably arisen.
Investigations Not Helpful.
"But by comparison with what has
been accomplished, these things, much
as they were to be regretted, were in
significant and no mistake has been
made which has been repeated. Moth
ing helpful or likely to speed or facili
! tate the war tasks of the government
has come out of such criticism and in
vestigation.
81 understand that reorganizations
by legislation are to be proposed
have not been consulted about then
and have learned Of them only at sec
ond hand-but their proposal came
after effective measures of reorganiza
ton had been thoughtfully and mature
ly perfected, and inasmuch as thes'
{ measures have been the result OF ex
perience, they are much more iikel.
than any others to be effective, If tn
congress will but remove the few
statutory obstacles of rigid depart
mental organization which stand IL
their way.
VIII Soon Prove His Value.
"The legislative proposals l hav
heard of would involve long additiona
delays and turn our experience int
mere lost motion.
"My association and constant cor
ference with the secretary of war hav
taught me to regard him as one of tn
ablest public officials I have eve
known. The country will soon lear
whether he or his critics understan
the business in hand.
"To add, as Senator Chamberlai
did. that there is inefficiency In ever
department and bureau Of the govern
ment, is to show such ignorance of az
i tual conditions as to make 1t imposs
BILE to attach any Importance to hi
statement.
.T am bound to infer that the stat
ment sprang out of opposition to tt
administration whole policy ratht
than out Of any serious intention
reform Its practice"
Chamberlain Replies.
, Replying to the president, Senate
: Chamberlain said:
, "My argument was directed to IL
, military establishment and not to Il
general government Those who heal
! me know that.
T had no prepared speech. I deli
, cred an extemporaneous address to Il
people there, explaining that sin
Bunker Hill we had practically !
military organization or policy. I dl
cussed the subject from that viewpoi
, for 20 minutes.
i "I said the senate military comm
;, tee had tried to correct the evils by t
i introduction of the two new bills, O
written by me is the director of mul
tions bill. The other, written by su
committee, is the wartboard bill. W
i stand by both.
= "Mr. Bakers effortsito better his I
ganjzation within the military eSti