Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-24
OREGON SENATOR
(OOntinued from page One)


patriotism could not be excelled any
where.
without having had time to prepare
an address because of multiplying du-
ties, / delivered an extemporaneous
talk. That address, as reproduced in
The New York Times, stand fully be-
hind.
81 want the senate to hear that ar
ticle before proceed to reply to the
charge that L made misstatements there
in. -
Senator Chamberlain submitted the
article which was read by the clerk.
He followed that with letter he re-
ceived Sunday from the president quot
ing from the New York speech and
asking if Chamberlain had made the
statement referred to-that the military
establishment had broken down because
of inefficieney in virtually all depart
ments.
Chamberlain read his reply, a long
letter, i'll which he said he had been
correctly quoted and repeating that
(" since Bunker Hill we have never had
a military policy"
In that letter Chamberlain offered
to go over the testimony given at the
senate military investigation with the
president.
81 got no reply to that letter." said
Chamberlain, "but on Monday the pre-
sident issued statement. 1t was read
read into the record.
By this time interest in Chamber
nj % o,,ooab bod Jroxu,, ,,,nTo +bop
house members into the senate chamber
to hear him.
Even the diplomatic gallery, usually
deserted was half full of women.
q" The statement of the president,
said Chamberlain, " challenged me, of
course, as to the truth of the statement
in the New York Times. That statement
l adhere to and now repeat.
Whether my colleagues or the coun
try will take the same evidence by the
four corners and reach the same conclu-
sion that | did | do not know. Others
may read the evidence and reach an,
other conclusion.
"Members of the military committee
democrats and republicans, have gone
into this situation with a single purpose
in view. They have done it without fear |
and without hope of reward
"I felt it my duty as an American
citizen to say what l did. I felt as if
/ could make n rift in the clouds that |
would let the sunlight in on the situa-
tion, the work of myself or colleagues
would not have been made in vain.
"Inasmuch as my veracity has been
questioned, l feel that I must tell the
country some things, perhaps, other
wise would not have told it.
'What ! propose to do l am doing |
rs man who loves his country, who /
would sacrifice his life and the lives of /
every member of his family for it,
Then after a short pause he shouted:
''I have not distorted the truth as
has been charged.
"The president does not know the
truth. From the lips of those who have
testified here and who are closest to
him, he cannot learn the truth, because
these men are too busy to get it, or (
it if they get it.
"If the administration wanted to be
fair to the American people, why did
lot Secretary Baker tell the truth and
et the American people assist in get i
ing ready for the terrible calamity that ]
S facing not only America, but the
whole world. I,
Secretary Baker in a general state I
nent to the country says $3,200,000 1000
lad been appropriated for ordnance and 1
hat $1,677,000,0O0 in contracts have .
,een let" said Chamberlain. "That IS 1
IL true, but the secretary fails to say /
hat America is totally mprepared to-
lay with ordnance. /
81 challenge anybody to read the tes- ]
imony before the military affairs com |
nittee and come to any other conclu '
ion.
"Poor, bleeding France, bled white t
lot only to save herself, but America, I
$ furnishing us today with heavy guns a
nd machine guns. If we relied on the t
rdnanee department, the war would be
yer before we could get to the front. t
"What is France to do for Italy, in 5
ase of desperate fight for the life v
that ally2" if
Chamberlain declared that "not q
alf-witted AmeViean' but could see i
hat we were being drawn into the
'ar long Before April, 1917.
And what was the ordnance depart
rent doing2' he asked, "Lying su-
inely on its back, doing absolutely
othing to ascertain the possibilities of
citing raw material.
81 have the highest regard for GEN
raj Crozier, chief of ordnance He has
lade his reputation in the army and
iven his life to the service of his
,untry. +'sHs-
''But we haven't been able to do
hat France, England, Italy-all our
lies have done-retire gentlemen who
aven I measured up to the situation.
"Why should America hesitate9 It s
Of question Of individuals but of
mericaln
Senator Chamberlain asked the sena-