The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-01-25


His continuance in the cabinet posi-
ton he holds has been the object Of
attack, both In the committee and in
the country generally, and with full
knowledge Of that fact he appeared
with a long and detailed statement Of
the war departments doings that serv-
ed as an elaborate defense of it and Of
himself as its head. Summing up the
departments chief accomplishments,
Mr.. Baker said a large army is in the
field and In training, enlisted and Sc
lected without serious dislocation of
the country's industries; its subsis-
tence is above criticism, its clothing
supply is now substantially complete;
arms Of the most modern kind have
been provided by manufacture or pur-
chased for the soldiers In France and
will be available for every man who
can be got to France in 1918; sub
stantial army is already on French
soil and ready for active service, and
lines of communication and supply
and vast storage and other facilities
! are In process of construction there
great programs for the manufacture Of
additional equipment and new instru-
ments Of war have been formulated.
The American army now In the field
or in training, Mr.. Baker said, num-
bered nearly nillion and half. and
he added: mo army of similar size in
the history of the world has ever been
raised, equipped or trained so quickly.
No such provision has ever been made
| for the comfort, health and general
well-being of an army.
The secretary did not undertake to
deny that weak places in the depart
ment's organization had been dIscov-
cred, but maintained that the reorgan-
ization of bureaus and the creation of
the war council had brought strength
and efficiency. "We can now see the
entire situation" he said. 1.-The initial
rush needs are substantially supplied.
The technical corps have been expand
ed and reorganized upon Industrial and
efficient lines"
Despite Mr.. Bakers defense, the
sentiment In congress for a separate
cabinet department of munitions seems
to be growing stronger and the Repub-
lican members set a day to consider
the adoption of a resolution favoring
such action.
Problems OF Labor and Fuel.
Secretary of Labor Wilso- asserts
there is an amply supply Of labor in
the country. but the problem is one Of
proper adjustment. Therefore the gGJ-
eminent has set In motion the machin-
cry for the mobilization and listribu-
ton of an army of about 100000
workers for agriculture, shipbuilding
and war contract plants. A network
Of interrelated labor exchanges will be
established to recruit workers and
transfer them from one section to an
other according to the demands. John
B. Densmore Of Montana was selected
to be national director of this service.
More lnsistent and more immediate
ly painful than the labor problem is
the matter of fuel. The coal shortage.
blamed by some authorities on the sell
fish greed of the operators. became so
pronounced last week, especially in
the east, that many Industries were
forced to close their doors and many
more went on part time.
In the house of representatives
there was sharp criticism of the fed
eral fuel administration, and one con.
gresham declared that if the govern
ment could not control prices It should
take over the mines. Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield on Thursday announced
the appointment Of Mark T.. Reaua Of
Oakland, Cal, to take charge OF the
: oil industry of the country, and II wa.
understood the government would TAX,
over the control of fuel oil as II has Of
coal. Distribution of the OIL will com,
first and later the question Of pric,
regulation will be taken up. One mos
desirable result OF this move Will be I,
assure the navy an adequate suppl
OF oil, which is the fuel of most OF IN
recently built vessels.
, II the women Of America win ~
J right TO vote, as seems probable. tn
suffragists will have To thank the ma,
: whom they have scolded. abused an,
! picketed for a long time The SuSal
4 u. Anthony amendment was approve
: by the house Thursday by only IN
bare two-thir,ls majority required. an
Q Ii Is fair To assume that II would no
E have carried If President Wilson ha
D not given 1t hearty and unexpected m
B dorsement. Fifteen Southern Demo
e Gratis who voted against national sui
frage two years ago voted for II mi
time. OF the PA votes in favor of IN
! amendment, 165 were cast by Repul
! licans. The resolution now goes
: the senate, where the cause must gni
!. ! several converts to carry it through