Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-06
Criticism, 10 Like OH
in Speeding Up War
Machinery at Cap;ta)

ments are visible in the machinery Of
war preparation IN Washington. All
of them have been made since the fire
OF criticism on the slowness and In
efficiency Of the administration began.
Men who look on everything that hap
pens in Washington as moves in party
politics declare all the changes made
were planned long before the critics
raised their voices.
From the standpoint OF the patriotic
critic whose only aim is to help speed
the winning Of the war, the important
fact is that the improvements have
been made. II only to demonstrate his
constructive purpose, he may be ex-
cused II he points out that each of the
great steps In advance has been taken
since The Tribune printed its first
critical article on Nov. IA.
Conspicuous among these recent I'M
provements are the almost complete
reorganization of the war department
the courageous attempt to grapple
with the extremely serious and threat
ening labor situation by the depart
ment Of labor, and the appointment OF
real shipping men to act as board.
with full authority. in the handling OF
priority in the use OF merchant ships
not only of the United States but Of all
the allies.
36,oO00,000 Pairs Of Shoes.
In all these directions there hereto
fore has been something worse than
confusion. The war department. for
instance, has already placed orders for
20, 600, 900 pairs Of shoes for the army.
1t has been anxious to put thru orders
for 100000 pairs more. That would
make a total Of 100000. or eighteen
pairs Of shoes for each soldier in an
army Of 100000 men. How far such
vast orders are necessary. at this
time. what effect they would have on
the domestic situation. does not appear.
So far as tho labor situation Is con-
cerned, there have been more than
5000 strikes IN the United States since
war was declared. There have been
dozen different and separate labor
bureaus and commissions In Washing
ton, each working without connection
with the others. Affairs had been al
lowed to drift into what all Informed
men know to be critical situation.
AS for shipping, there has been al
most constant conflict for the use OF
such ships as were available and for
which bunker coal could be supplied.
oosthals Getting Results.
First Of the recent reforms in tho
public interest, II not indeed, In &C
tual Importance. is the almost complete
Of the war department.
Major General Goethals. as acting
quartermaster general, is fast bringing
the great matter Of supplies for the
armies over seas and in environments
into something like business order
When he took hold he found the af-
fairs Of the quartermasters bureau In
almost complete chaos.
The appointment Of e. r. Stettinius
as surveyor general Of supplies puts
into the war department the one man
in the United States who Is probably
best qualified by training and expert
ence to buy all the enormous quantity
Of supplies needed by our forces. AS
member Of J. P. Morgan & Co. Mr..
Stettinius was in charge for more than
two years Of all the purchases Of the
allies in the United States. At present
his position. at least his powers and
authority ase- not we'll defined. One
ventures the hope that before long It
will be found wise to utilize more fully
the proved ability and unparalleled
experience Of the man.
RosenwaId Committee Goes.
The advisory commission Of the Ma
tional Council OF Defense. composed Of
volunteer business men. has served It's
purpose and Is now practically out Of
business. AS q part Of it vanishes the
committee on supplies over which Ju-
Illus Rosenwald Of Chicago has pre-
sided. Mr.. Rosenwald's chief assist
ant has been made a member Of the
regular staff Of the war department.
Other trained and able business men
have been added to the organization Of
the war department and the buying Of
all supplies has been concentrated in a
single bureau.
The war industries board. heretofore
Of reorganization. The report is that
1t will have authority to control and CO.
ordinate all war purchases
Even the great general staff Of the
army has been reorganized. Maj. Gen.
J. c. March, young. energetic and pre-
sumably suggested by Gen. Pershing
for the position, becames acting chief
Of staff. It Is understood that the
greatly DETECTED staff will be increased
by the addition Of many young and
able officers.
If for any reason Secretary Baker
should leave, even for time, his place
at the head Of the war department
there are certainly men now in the de-
partment who are fully qualified to fill
his place.
After ten. months OF delay marked
by repeated and almost innumerable
efforts to agree on a central and COM
prehensive labor program. President
Wilson has finally placed in the hands
Of the labor department, headed by
Secretary Wilson. full power to formu-
late national labor policy and to es-
tablish a board representing both labor
and capital as well as the public, to
administer 1t. 1t is the hope of the
administration and Of all loyal citizens
be justified.
Supreme Board Still Needed.
These are three Of the great changes
and advances which have been made
in Washington since the critical period
began. They all stop short of the prime
necessity. There is yet not authority
short of the president, who lacking the