Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-03-26
DenOunces Government For
Not Telling Americans Of
Their Peril
OTHER SENATORS TAKE
PART In THE ATTACK
Falling Down Of AirpIane
Program Causes Most
Bitter Comment

washington march 26.-Stlrred by
news Of further British and French
Withdrawals under the German drive in
France, senators today launched
sweeping attack on the American war
government.
The criticism included charges of fail.
ure of the airplane and shipping pro.
grams, lack of guns and an attack upon
the censorship for "failure to inform
the people in this dark hour"
Coincidentally, there was hint Of
army gossip in the appearance of Major
General Leonard Wood in conference
with Senators Lodge, Wadsworth and
others in the capitol today, just previous
to the developments on the floor.
Following are some of the verbal
shots fired at the war administration:
Senator Lodge, Massachusetts,: 81
am going to tell the truth. 1t is a
crime in this dark hour to keep from
the American people facts well known
60 the enemy. We have no airplanes
in France, nU big guns. We've Dmit.
but two ships"
Senator Thomas, Colorado: "The
Hun may ere long be on our soil. We
must awaken, quit deceiving ourselves
and mass every resource now.
Senator johnson, California: s'There
is only one remedy-pitiless publicity. I"
Senator Poindexter, Washington:
F'The time when silence is golden has
gone for me-when our airplane pro-
gram has failed so terribly that it is
scandal to the entire world"
Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska: "We
are ninety days behind with our fight
ing planes"
Senator Fall, New Mexico: "The only
way the president can be reached now
is by giving the American people the
information he has failed to assimi
late.
Applaud johnson.
Crowded senate galleries disregarded
strict senate rules and broke into long
and noisy applause when Senator john
son, California, declared:
''There is only one way to remedy
this sort of outrage upon American
youth and that, in the words of a dis
tinguished executives, is pitiless pub
licity."
1t was the most dramatic moment in
q dramatic day.
ator New, Indiana, concerning details
of the airplane program.
els it true, as it is being stated
around this building today, that a wit
ness before the military committee tes-
titled that without let or hindrance the
Germans fly over American trenches so
low that our boys fire at them with re-
volversg" asked Johnson.
How Did He Know.
1t is, - replied New.
1t was then that johnson spoke of
pitiless publicity as the remedy.
~ am willing to give my blood in
this war, as you all are" said John
son, ''but we ask that the blood that
we give have a fair chance.
:, 81 want to ask the senator from
Indiana, who has said he wants to tell
the people the truth, what was the air
craft program to July l this year9"
Senator New replied that 10000 COM
hat planes were to have been delivered
by July 1, 1918, according to the orig
inal program.
''How many win we have by that
date9" asked johnson.
e'Thirty seven," said New.
PolndeXteE criticised the attitude OF
the administration regarding the Jap
anese- Siberian situation.
''While we hesitate, Germany acts"
he declared. NAnd while we hesitate
Russia may be lost forever
Senator King, Utah, maintained that
while he was convinced that Japan
was loyal to the allies, he does not be-
lieves even this, just yet, justified that
country invading Siberia.
"When such action becomes neees-
sary," he said, "Japan will make her
entry with the full approval Of the al
lies"