New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Declares Power Granted Is
Used to Build Political
Machine
Administration Is
Called Inefficient
Five Democrats and Neu-
trail on Commission to-
War Council

Representative Frederick H. Gillett,
of Massachusetts, acting minority
leader in the House, speaking before
The Republican County Committee last
night arraigned the Wilson Admins
tration for partisanship, inefficiency
and extravaganza in handling the war.
Mr. Gillett declared that he had sup
pressed much of his deep feeling in
the matter in Congress for the sake of
non-partisanship in supporting the
Administration in time of war, but
felt tnat he could speak more frankly
before friendly audience of his own
political faith.
He aimed his attack at the pro-
gramme of the Shipping Board, the
sviatlon board. the Committee on Pub
lie Information and the "purely parti-
san appointments" by the President in
high places in the conduct of the war.
referring particularly to the personnel
Of the commission headed by Colonel
= House which went abroad to partici-
pate in the war council.
Il am not, of course. unprejudiced,"
he said. "but it seems to me that there
has never been time in my twenty
FIVE years of political life when an ad-
ministration was more narrowly par
tisan, and that. too, at a juncture when
it was least to be expected. We are
eager and unsparing in our help to
make the world safe for democracy,
but we do not like to see our contribu-
tions diverted to making the next cleo
tion safe for Democracy"
Congress Not Fully Informed
The speaker charged that Congress
and the people had not been fully in
formed as to administrative matters in
the conduct Of the war. and that Con-
gress had not been fully advised of the
use of its enormous war appropria-
tions.
" fear that there has been a studied
effort to disclose to Congress and the
public only the favorable side and con-
eeal discouraging facts" he said. eve
nave not been allowed to know how far
below expectation our assistance to the
Allies has been, and now as the facts
are leaking out there is deep suspicion
and disappointment. The aeroplane
production, which we thought was the
cne bright feature in our enterprise,
now seems to be as faulty and unre-
liable as the rest"
Representative Gillett cited the Bu-
ieau OF Public Information as one in
stance where Congress had not been
SMa'ised OF the use of appropriations.
For instance, Congress has not been
.oid OF the expenditures Of the Bureau
fubllc Information. There is a law
paDiicity experts. and the only author
ny for the Creel bureau is the appro-
Illation by Congress Of 100000 900 at
sne outbreak Of the war to the Presi-
sens as an emergency fund to use at
nls discretion. Out of that fund, de-
spi'e the expression Of the will of Con-
PRESS against publicity experts, this
pufeau was organized, and we do not
snow what salary is paid to Mr.. Creel
any OF his assistants, nor have
zen able TO secure anything more than
.ae most general statement as to its
expenditures.
Now in the Public Eye
ar. Creei is just now in the public
~, mainly because Of his recent state
aIsnt that ne should be proud to his
syihH day that the United States was
saptepared for the war. There are
soaotiess others in the country who
ympathizc with him in his rejoicing,
ss sss some OF them are in Jail and others
IN iunatic asylums, and I think
msre are very few who do not regret
pared.
:. have always been one in years past
s."s sno ala not believe tnat the United
;es wss ever likely to be entangled
n.ss ois war, and did not think it was
Csrafy ior US to spend money az
M.any a'd on our army and navy.
s,Ay s"y millions Of our people have been
esiusnnt up in that opinion, but the
u'nerence between most Of us iS
wnen we recognized our mistake -
n. IN ,ra n,s charge Of partisansiip against
ss;A ~ wilson Administration, Mr.. Gillet,
s.,s ana 10 the more conspicuous ap.
'ments which have been made
90. oeen sorry TO note that even the
sS..4'nse of war has not been able ia
sss.s @ Ine same spirit Of narrow parti.
ssss ss"'p. it IN aggrayating to see the
nnc,. powera which we have conferred
- t.tyul yul pohtical antagonists used, ~
nix ;nsye, 70 build up an enormous po
Arnns. -. machine: J would not Ask the
annn. ans.n'nsnt Of Republicans, although
Dssh combine in order TO max.
lsSv''tt5tNEd ON Ltx8t PUUe Cal. 4