Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-21

q
President Wilson takes the position
that he must be responsible for the
! conduct OF the war and must have q
free hand, under the Overndan law, t.
delegate and distribute his authorize
as he may decide is best. On this
/ broad proposition there is little differ
ence OF opinion in congress or In the
country. No greater show Of public
confidence in q president Of the United
States is of record than the enact
ment Of the Overman measure.
The Courier was one Of many news
papers which favored the Overman bill
and believed It's passage should be &C
complished without delay. We believe
the law is proper and we have faith
| in the presidents desire and ability
to use the power it gives him in calling
| to his side the abtest counselorS and
assistants to be found in the country
It is apparent that his objection to
the Chamberlain resolution Is based
more on the identity OF the resolution's
author than on the desire to help win
| the war which Senator chamberlain
| declares is behind the proposal. The
senate military committee, 1t happens
4 contains several Of the senators who
have been loudest in criticism OF Secre.
! tary Baker and his methods Of conduct
| ing the war department. 1t is in ap-
praising the temper and intentions OF
these men that the difference in opin
ion regarding Americas prosecution
of the war really is to be found.
| It Is reasonable to conclude from
! Mr.. Wilson's letter to Senator Martin
| that he considers Senator Chamberlain
an opponent OF the administration, al
though the Oregon law maker is a
member of the presidents political
party and a leader among those who
favor aggressive prosecution Of the
war until victory shall reward Amer.
lea. Even Mr.. Chamberlain's severest
critics never have called him pac,'
| fist.
It is not unfair to say that Senator
| Chamberlain's, criticisms OF some OF
| the war-making steps have been un'
necessarily harsh, but it would be IN
fair to omit the fact that they have
been constructive rather than destruc.
tive. Errors to which he has directed
| attention have been corrected and
their recurrence has been rendered un-
likely by reorganization OF the war
department and strengthening OF It,,
which included Secretary Bakers trip
| to Europe.
The collapse Of the aircraft program
| is an admitted fact. President Wilson
| has ordered an Investigation by the
department Of justice with the assist
ance Of Charles e. Hughes. He ex'
presses no objection to another inves'
tieatton by the senate military commit
| tee, but he opposes action authorizing
Senator Chamberlain to direct more
J extended inquiry touching the general
conduct OF the war.
That, after all. is what the furore in
Washington is about.
Senator Cummins brought out a
point yesterday which has not received
attention SO publicly before but which
| really is forced into general attention
by the circumstances. He protested,
! rather harshly, to be sure, against a
| policy Of secrecy and the Capitalization
Of supreme authority and power IN one
man without the safeguard OF publicity
| for all his acts. He made It plain tnay
| his objection was not based on a1ear
/ of voluntarily improper decisions; ne
| argued for wider knowledge OF war
policies in the making on the ground
| that the problems are OF too great I'M
portance to be entrusted to single
man or few men.
It is patent that in wartime Prest-
dent Wilson cannot take the whole
country into his confidence nor ask It's
advice on every decision he shall be
called upon to make. It Is equally
clear that he would consider 1t per-
sonal insult-an expression OF want OF
confidence. he calls it-if the senate
committee headed by Senator Cham
berlain should be constituted practi-
caIly q board Of review for his actions.
II would seem that the problem
might be settled amicably and with a
degree of safety for the country IN
either one of two ways.
First, President Wilson might ap.
point a supreme war council to sit
| with him in his deliberations and
| share the task OF making his import
! ant decisions, selecting the members
Of this body with view to obtaining
men in whom congress and the public
would have absolute confidence.
Second, the president might agree
| to the adoption Of q resolution similar
to that offered by Senator Chamber
| lain but substituting for the military
| COMMITTEES Of the senate special com.
mittee, to be chosen from one or both
houses Of congress and to include in
its personnel only such law makers as
| enjoy the confidence Of the public and
| possess the highest possible type OF
ability and Judgment.
The herculean tasks which are Pres.
ident wilson's challenge the ability OF
the strongest men. The decisions
must be right; the fate Of the world
may hang on any Of them. 1t Is OF
the highest importance that no OBJ
stacles be placed in his path by anyone
| whose desire is merely to criticise; il
| is of equal importance that he avail
himself OF the highest type Of counsel
and advice.
! The situation which has arisen in
| Washington within the past few days
[, Is Of vital and far-reaching importance
1t presents problem greater than any
single man or party. It calls for the
highest type of patriotism and devo
lion to the country's interests on the
part OF every official concerned In the