Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-02-08
BAKER SCORED
Py NEBRASKAN
Secretary Hitchcock Makes At
tack on War Secretary's
Recent Statement.
SAYSW|LS0N BETRAYED
Scion Brands Secrehary's Statement
Regarding Readiness Of Ameri-
can Troops as Wholly False
and Preposterous.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Hitch
cock, Nebraska, renewed demands in
tho senate for further coordination
Of the nations war efforts by declar'
ing that the War department is "bet'
ter equipped with brakes than with
motive power" and that chaos has re.
suited from other departmental work.
Secretary Bakers recent statement
to the Senate military committee that
the United States would have half a
million soldiers in France early this
year and that prospects were not I'M
promising for ships to carry million
more were characterized by Senator
Hitchcock as absolutely preposterous
and so exaggerated as to
convey an entirely false impression
as to what We can do and what VIC
are doing"
Presidents Attitude Unfortunate.
"Tne President has announced he
does not want the committee to re-
port the cabinet bill, and If press re-
ports be true he objects to even a dis
cussion Of this legislation in the Sen
ate," Senator Hitchcock stated.
This attitude on the part of the
President is unfortunate, but not al
together unnatural. The President be-
longs to the school Of political philos'
oplers who adhere to the belief that
all important legislation should orig
mate with and be proposed by the
executive to the legislative body.
II cannot subscribe to this scheme
of government, although it has obvi'
GUS advantages in that it provides
leadership, order and program.
"Since he became President, Mr..
Wilson has enforced his views on Con.
gross in large degree and generally
with good results. Now and then,
however, there must be exceptions.
Hears Only One Side.
II agree with Senator Chamberlain
that the President does not know the
whole situation. He cannot give two
months to Investigation, as we have
done. Like king, surrounded by his
court, he hears practically only one
side. The people who complain do not
reach the President, nor even mem
bers of his cabinet.
Shall the Congress not be permit
ted to amend defective machinery?
Cannot one of its great committees be
permitted to report its conclusion on
a pending bill? Shall the Senate be
even prohibited from discussing bills?
II cannot believe our duty to the
will be performed by such
weak abdication of responsibility. To
use slang phrase. 1t is up to u.s."
Specific Charges.
Senator Hitchcock charged specific
ally that
The War department has fallen
down in most Of its important func-
lions.
Secretary Bakers efforts to correct
defects in his department would be
futile.
The transportation system has fall
en- down and is gigantic wreck"
There is no power to coordinate
across the Atlantic and
production here.
Lack of proper directing authority
has resulted in the present fuel stu
alton. The present condition of our
is nothing less than
shocking"
Efforts to move food for our Allies
md ourselves have miscarried
Williams Replies.
A torrent of bitterest reproach was
turned on the Nebraskan when John
Sharp Williams, senator from Missis-
sippi, in replying, charged that the at
lacks that had been launched upon
the administration were pro-German
in their origin. The proposed war
cabinet, the Mississippian compared
10 the committee of asses that almost
ruined Lincoln.
There is more of it to come. Friends
If war cabinet and munitions direc-
tor legislation, determined to go
through with their fight, have COM
pletely disregarded the request of the
President, that the bills be killed and
debate brought to a close.
A>~.s A,snoaessa 0ae$u Een<ne.