Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-25
Chamberlain, c. Replying t.
Wilson's Charge of Dis,
torting Truth, Bares De.
partment's Inefficiency,
Flags Baker for Failures
Reiterates Charges.
DEMANDS NEW BLOOD
IN WAR MANAGEMENT

Washington, D. c., Jan. 24.-St2nd-
ing firmly by his charge that Ameri-
cas- military, establishment is en-
meshed in ineficiency, Senator Cham.
berfain Of Oregon, chairman of the
senate military committee, replied in
the senate today to President VIII
sons denunciation of his recent New
York speech, by repeating the state
ment which drew the presidents fire
and declaring that the president him.
self does not know the truth
Senator Chamberlain read to the
senate letter received from Presi-
dent Wilson opposing the creation Of
a ministry of munitions. He said he
did this to counteract the presidents
charge that he had not been con-
suited regarding proposed legislation
to be offered in congress.
BLAME FOR ARMY DEATHS.
Senator Chamberlain declared he
would show that the deaths OF hun
dreds and thousands of men at can
tonments and camps were due to the
war department and .1that all cpl
DENIES could have bsen prev$nte
the war department had been effect
i've
Senator Chamberlain rose to ques-
ton OF personal privilege in the sem
ate to make reply to President VIII
sons recent statement charging that
the senator, in speech at New York,
advocating government war reorgan.
ization and declaring inefficiency ex-
listed in all branches of the govern
ment, had made an astonishing and
absolutely unjustifiable distortion OF
the truth"
HOW ONE SOLDIER DIED.
Senate and galleries we're moved to
expressions Of emotion as Senator
Chamberlain, during the progress Of
his speech, read letter to Senator
Wadsworth.
The writer, whose name was not
given. said he was notified through
friends that his son was Ill six days
after he had been taken to the camp
hospital. He was first permitted to
see the boy through a window and the
first sight appalled, him. The room
and bed were filthy, he wrote, and the
patient had not been bathed for eight
days. His requests for nurse or to
permit himself to aid his son were re-
fused, the writer stated, but finally he
was told he might provide clean
clothes When he returned his sons
face and hands had been washed, but
still were dirty.
CORPSE STOPS DOOR.
The next day he returned again as
an attendant was trying to give the
patient water from bowl. When the
father intervened the attendant said:
81 guess l better get funnel and
actually returned with a paper funnel.
The father stopped that and suggested
a spoon Fifteen minutes later the
boy died. At headquarters of the
camp he was told that he might have
his sons body that night Having pro
vided himself with pass to the hos.
pital he did not knock when he entered
but as he tried to open the door it
struck heavy object 1t was his
sons body The door had struck the
head.
REiTERATEs ARRAlGNMENr.
Senator Chamberlain, after haring
read to the senate verbatim copy Of
the speech for which the president
denounced him. declared that he ad-
hered to what he had said.
In beginning his address Senator
Chamberlain said the president had
attacked both his veracity and integ-
rity, heretofore unchallenged. but that
in replying he did so without any per.
sonal feeling against the president.
NO BITTERNESS. HE SAYS.
"For twenty-four years." Senator
Chamberlain said. "I have served the
public in my state to the best of my
ability and in all that time ! have
never had my veracity called in ques-
ton nor my integrity impeached. 1t is.
therefore. with some feeling Of humi-
liation and also sadness that I rise
to question of personal privilege
when my veracity has been called in
question, not by an ordinary citizen
but by a very distinguished gentleman
who. may say. occupies the highest
place of any man in the world.
"It is with much feeling that l rise
to address myself to the attack made
upon me and do so without any feel
ing of unkindness."
HEARD BY NoTAeLES.
Senator Chamberlain said he had
hoap ipy;ted IN snaak heforo tho Ne.