The sun., 1918-01-21
WILSON AGAINST
PLAN TOHAVEA
WAR CABINET
Said to BE Aligning Forces
to Balk Plan-Members
Are Reticent.
HITCHCOCK IS CONFIDENT
Test Expected to Come Soon
on Question Of Ef-
ficiency.
HITCHCOCK IS CONFIDEN'
specisi DespdscA to The srK.


WASHINGTON. Jan. Ex-senator George
q. Chamberlain's speech before the
Security League at Its luncheon in New
York yesterday Is accepted In Washing
ton a. the opening salvo in an actual
clash between the President and Con-
sress on the issue Of efficiency.
In his protest against the War De-
partment's methods Of handling the
major problem Of war supply Senator
Chamberlain voiced the thought that Is
in the mind Of every member OF the
Committee on Military Affairs.
II was established definitely to-day.
however. that President Wilson. backed
by his advisers. actively disapproves OF
the Senate suggestions, which include
the organisation Of war council.
A member Of the Cabinet said the
President and his advisers, meaning the
Cabinet. were opposed to II as unneces-
sary and unsound. Authority is now
centred in the President as Comma nder
In CHIEF and the President has deleg tied
his supreme war powers by his choice
and BY the law" he said. but control
remains in him. l. is feE that new
boards or Offices would simply muddle
the situation and would not help to CO.
ordinate work. With respect to n d.
rector of munitions or any other single
officer to bring NIL work under one head
it is felt that changing mans official
position Or title would rot make him
more efficient.
Satisfied With Progress.
1T has been the opinion that the
present organisation was doing excellent
work. There has been much criticism
and some little WAS merited. but as a
whole the war work OF the United States
has gone forward in a manner that Is
not appreciated at home.
There Is littlc likelihood that this
viewpoint will bc changed or that any
additional organization will be wei
coined
Already President Wilson is taking
measures to realism HIS own group Of
followers In the Senate To-day he sent
for Senator Martin tVa-). floor leader
OF the Democrats. and Senator Simmons
(N. c., chairman OF tho Finance Com
lnittee. Senator Martir could not be
located. bu; Serntor S'mmons spent an
hour at the White House. He emerged
looking grave and sturd!;: refused TO
discuss the matters and things regard
ing which the President had talked. AT
Wilson ie dcs.rous II taking time b. the
forelock In the matter OF these incip-
ien' riffs in harmony IN the White
House and the Senate ard II is believed
that Senator simmons l'ctered to-day
to some exceedingly pertinen; comment
| with Senator Chamberlain as the sub
ject thereof. ard received instruction.
! in regard to the course which the Pres
ident wishes his party In the Senate 70
follow.
On a teN vote on the question Of a
change OF system many believe that the
/ President will still win. providing that
in the meantime tho country has no.
given Overwhelming evidence that 4
favors such change.
In . Receptive Mood.
one Senator calling uaon the Fres!-
dent recently attempted to sound him
out in regard to the suggested plans OF
coordination as we'll as tire suggestion!
Of granting him an authorized body o.
coadiutors anG advisers on whom lie
could rely IN what was deemed neces-
sary division OF responsibility for tic
details OF the wa plan. He told the
President OF the growth OF adverse sen-
tin,ent and assured him that approval
from him or an expression q. apprecia
ton from him Of the efforts 70 sid him
with the burden OF war might meas
urably disarm tho waxing opposition,
He gathered from the Presidents at
titude that he lad not appreciated the
extent TO which criticism OF certain Of
his subordinates and the system for
which they stood had grown. lie left
with the impression that the President,
while disinclined TO accept the su!ges'
ton that the war machine was faulty.
was in q receptive mood and interested
( In the things he had been told and dis
posed to consider further the faults out
| lined.
! Within tie period since thr first ap-
! proac!l to the President was made the
! investigation by the Military Committee
has proceeded, turning UP one deficiency
after another In tho mechanism Of the
war machine. The Chamber OF Com.
fnerce of the United States. representing
more than half n million business men
CoNttnued or Second Page.