Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-25


ing that camp authorities failed to notify
family of tine death OF a soldier ana
that the body came home wrapped only
in a sheet.
IF | were to print all the letters ] gel
along this line" he continued they
would shock not only Congress but the
American conscience. l do it only 70
show the country that there is inefficiency
and I'm going to do it if it costs me my
political life"
Shocking Case of Neglect
Senate and galleries were moved By ex-
pressions of emotion as Senator Cha'loei
lain read a letter TO Senator WadsWoith'
The writer. whose name was not gwen
said he was notified through friends thal
his son was i'll six days after ne mad
been taken to the camp hospital. He was
first permitted TO see the boy through :
window and the first sight appalled, MINI
The room and bed were fifth he wrote
and the patient had not been bathed Tor
eight days. His requests for nurse o. 20
hermit himself to aid his son were re-
fused. the writer stated, but finally ne
was told he might provide clean CLONES
The next day he returned again as an
attendant was trying to give the patient
water from a bowl When the father in
teryened the attendant said: Il guess !
better get funnel" and actually return
FED With paper funnel The father stoi.
ped that and suggested spoon. fIfteen
minutes later the boy died. At headquar-
tiers. of. the camp he was told that he
might have his sons body that nigh.
Ibving provided himself with a pass 10
the hospital he did not knock when he
entered. but as he tried to open the door
it struck a heavy object. it was his sons
body and the door had struck his head.
Il want;to arouse the country and ev-
cry mother and father 10 write TO the
President of the United States and appeal,
not in a spirit of revenge; but in order
that the example of beloved son, broth
err ors.-husbande may arouse the country
to sasssthe lives Of our soldiers senator
Chamberlain declared as. be finished read
ing the letter
Faiiuce to Accept Wool
Senator Chanb1nlain cited what he said
was another instance Of inefficiency, lin
the failure of the government to accept
wool offered when war was declared. Lat
er. he said, after. the wool had gotten
into 'hands of spectators, the wool was
bought by the government at higher
prices. " -.
Senator vardamainn Denii.) asked who
was responsible for use of shoddy Inarniy
clothing.
MIR. Chamberlain replied Mr.. Eisenmann
! chairman of the supplies committee ad-
vising the council Of defense.
what was the excuse?" asked the Mis-
sissippi senator.
Conservation Of wool" Senator Cham
berlain replied. I'D rather have conser-
walton of life"
Turning to the Presidents structure
upon him, Senator Chamberlain read that
part assaiing congressional investiga-
tons.
with all due respect to the President.
who has served notice on Congress that
there must he no meddling and must be
no investigating unless it meets the sn.ie
i OF executive favor said he, 81 differ
from that view. We are a coordinate
part of the government. When become
a rubber stamp in my duties I'll get out
of the Senate and public life and let some
body take my place
Senator James (Dem.) interrupted TO ex-
plain that the President had referred TO
the war cabinet bill in complaining that
bill for war cabinet was being intro
duCed without consulting him.
senator Chamberlain said he was Of the
impression that the President referred To
! the munitions director bill, but he hoped
he was mistaken.
Letter from President
Senator James then read a letter re-
ceved from President Wilson yesterday
The Presidents letter follows:
gu have been kind enough to tell me
that You had heard that had written a
letter to the chairman of the Senate mil
tary affairs committee concerning the idea
of a munitions minister, and you asked
me whether l did write such a letter.
did and am glad to send you herewith a
copy % il.
The consultation referred to with SER
ator Chamberlain, to whom the letter +
addressed, was upon the subject of the
various difficulties and delays that has
been encountered by the war department.
as shown by the testimony before the Sen
ate committee and the senator merely
mentioned to me that he had a bill in
mind to Great munitions ministry. he
gave me no details OF the bill he had In
mind, and IL was only when l learned an
sfwhFdS from others Of The real character
OF the proposals that felt it my dutv Ia
write 10 the senator ana apprise him 4.
my attitude
Il assumed from what I heard later
mat that particular proposal had been
abandoned. and L was referring in nv
statement of the other day TO the VERY.
surprsin" proposal to create superior
war cabinet Of type unknown to our
practice or institutions
+ give these details merely 10 ~
ply To Your kind inquiry and let Won
Know ali the facts of the case as Won
desire
The Presidents statement that lie
was not consulted concerning the War
cabinet proposal is true" said Senator
James.
Senator Chamberlain then stated
that last Friday the military affairs
committee had delegated Senator
Hitchcock to lay the War Cabinet plan
ln.f