The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-25

NJ M SSSR7 II
this great war, can square such con-
duct with any claim to patriotism.
! The only excuse ] can find for this is
that they have been misled by the
doctrine promulgated by their lead
ers, that they are justified in taking
advantage OF their Government even
to the extent of fatally crippling its
war endeavors.
Government To Blame.
Nor is the Government at all
blameless in this matter. On the con-
trary 1t has surrendered soul and con-
science to unionized labor. 1 am in
formed that on the West Coast the
Government itself stepped in and
forced yards either to close business
or recognize labor unions with all
their disastrous rules. Not only this,
but contracts which were made with
the shipbuilding concerns are SO
drawn as to invite the very practices
that I have enumerated.
Just how long the American peo-
pie will submit to being robbed. first
by the material man, then by the la
borer, and then to having both rob-
berries encouraged and acquiesced in
by the Government, the Lord only
knows. Every man who holds up the
Government in this time OF danger
commits a crime. and every Govern.
ment official who stands by armed
with the power TO prevent such ACES
against the Government and allows
them to continue, is a participant m
that crime. Every official who .isns
such contract. every official who pays.
is guilty OF assisting in dispoiling his
own Government in this time OF wa",
and the Congress OF the United
States. which takes no steps after the
facts are established to stop this
spoliatiOn, cannot clear its skirts
from blame II this country is being
robbed It Is the fault OF the officials
in charge and not because of lack of
power TO prevent IT,"
Baker statement.
Turning his vitriol upon the trans
port question, Senator McCumber
said: "It would be amusing II the
situation were less tragic to note
the awakening OF those responsible
for the conduct OF the war to the
ludicrous truth that while they have
been preparing a large army for
France, they have just forgotten all
about the necessity for ships to trans
port that army and to supply it.
ION January 80 OF this year. Secre-
tary Baker said in substance: we
have available TO be shipped 10
France 100000 men IL we had the
transportation facilities. | am reveal
Z Ia
are the crux OF our problem.
Let me ask Secretary Baker this
simple question: Why were those
words not uttered b. the War Depart
ment ten months ago You knew
then what tonnage YOU would need I"
transport aud supply an army OF from
800 OUn To l.5OOOOO men. You knew
II would require 100000 tons for
800, 900 soldiers. You could easily
have inquired as to where you were
to look for this shipping. II you
answer that this was no part or the
duties OF the Secretary OF War, that
shipping board had been created
for that purpose and YOU we're con
cerned only with the creating of an
army, then Il seems to me you have
given an unansWerable argument in
favor of a war bosrd that would
bring into accord all OF the programs
OF war
What VIII YOu do.
Now that we have awakened, now
that we have an army Of 100000
ready. now that neither we nor the
world have the shipping to take that
army over and supply it, what are
you going to do about It? Well, will
tell you one OF two things you are
going to do. Either you will get right
down to business now and construct
ships on a greater scale than you
have ever contemplated. or you will
allow this war to be over before you
get into II, and our Presidents NV
articles OF peace conditions will be q
less needed scrap OF paper than the
Belgian treaty.
There is nothing pessimistlc about
this. II is simply Gods truth. I'm
less We stop our diIly-dalIying and
set to work, nothing short OF de-
bacle in the Central Powers akin to
that of Russia can save our faces
and those of our allies and l am not
looking for anything OF that kind in
the Central Powers. We are about TO
call for our second draft. What will
we do with mem? Keep them in can
tOnments one o. two years? What
are we going TO do about Il: Camou-
iage our eyes. hide the truth from
our own people? The country has
finally aroused itself from its lethargy
sufficiently TO observe that our boat
is in the rapids and headed for the
cataract Shall We continue to drift
With a drunken optimistic smile, or
shall we seize the oars and with
the full power OF our reserve ener-
giles save ourselves from shameful