The Washington herald., 1918-01-26
BAKER READY
FOR QUIZZING
BY COMMITTEE
Secretary Invites Senate to
Let Him Disclose War
Department Workings.

NEWTON ~. BAKER, secretary Oh
War. will give the Administrations
answer to the criticisms of Senator
Chamberlain of Oregon and Col
Roosevelt against the governments
conduct Of the war.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee, in secret session yesterday.
agreed to let him appear in person
before that body on Monday to tell
his story.
He is ready, he announced last
night, to give the committee, Con-
gress and the country every item OF
information concerning what the
War Department has done, and is
doing, that will not disclose impor-
tant military secrets to the enemy.
Secretary Baker personally ap-
pealed by letter to Senator Cham
berlain, who is chairman Of the
committee, for a chance to be heard.
His letter indicated the hope that
the committee would arrange II so
that all members of Congress, de-
string to, might hear. There was
in the appeal a suggestion that he
be allowed to testify as soon as
possible.
Prepared for GriIling.
He Is confident that he can satisfy
the public. He regards it as impera-
tive that the country be spared any
false impressions that the assaults
of Senator Chamberlain and Col.
Roosevelt may have left.
He win go prepared to face a broad
side OF questions.
Appointment by the Secretary today
Of Edward J. Stettinius, of the firm
of ]. j. Morgan & Co, OF New York.
as surveyor general of all army pur-
chases, is regarded by friends Of
Senator Chamberlain as a notable con-
cession to q rising tide of discomfort
and distrust of existing methods.
Stettinius he explained will fit into
the machinery of REORGANIZATION he
had already begun to effect His ap-
pointment is intended to bring into
the organization the valuable prac-
teal experience and wide vision OBJ
tanned by the New York civilian as
purchaser of war supplies for the al
lies. prior to the entry of America
into the war.
Roosevelt Conferences.
Col. Roosevelt, turning his atten-
l,tion from the controversy between
Senator Chamberlain and Presidenl
Wilson, in which he sided with the
Oregon Senator. devoted his atten-
tion yesterday to lining up Re
gress in behalf of his universal
(, Fw.s Ae
proposal, placed before the Re
publican House cancus Wednesday
! night by Representative Madden, OF
meeting of the caucus, sometime
next week.
Representative Baer. of North
Dakota, non-partisan, issued a
statement last night disclaiming all
intention of aiding Col. Roosevelt s
| criticism OF the administration.
Baer and the Colonel conferred to-
day. Baer said:
Il did not talk to Mr.. Roosevelt
as a party man. / talked to him
merely about the need of sttmulat-
ing the production of food for war
purposes. This is no time to bring
partisanship into the government"
Baer declined an invitation to
participate in the House Republi-
can caucus because. he said, of the
Non-Partisan Leagues opposition
to militarism>
For a brief period yesterday all
plans set to have Secretary Baker
appear before the House Military
affairs committee today. Chairman
Dent, however. was asked by the
Secretary, in view of the latter's
efforts to appear at once before the
Senate committee to postpone the
House hearing. This was done,
though it was announced that Re-
preventative Carter. of Virginia,
would probably defend Secretary
Baker in a speech in the House.