The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-04
S TER BRAKES
: THAN ENGINE
-
War Department Declared to
be Equipped With Fine
Stopper, But Poor
Starter.
HITCHCOCK OPENS WAR
Says it is Out Of Reason to Expect
One Man to Look After
Everything These
Days.
HITCHCOCK OPENS WAR

TUnited Press Leased WIRE SerVHe.1
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Declarins
that the war department is better
eiuipped with brakes than with mo-
tive power" and that chaos alone mas
resulted from other departmental
work. Senator Hitchcock, Neoraska,
| today resumed demaTts in the senate
for further coordination OF the Ia
tlon's war efforts.
Hitchcock's attack came In the race
of personal and urgent demands oy
President Wilson for less discussion
of the war cabinet bill and more
action on vital legislation. 1t marked
the opening Of a spirited discussion
| in the senate and house over tne
Chamberlain measures.
| The president has announced ne
does not want the committee TO re-
mort the cabinet bill and If press re
ports be true he objects even to DIS
cussion of this legislation in the sen
ate, Hitchcock stated. This ATTITUDE
on the part Of the president Is un1or-
tunste but altogether unnaAaiIal.
..1'he president belongs to the
school Of political philosophers VINO
adhere to the belief that all import.
ant legislation should originate anu
be proposed by the executive body.
"f cannot subscribe to this scheme
of government although it has some
obvious advantages in that 1t pro
lyides leadership, order and program. !.
| "Stnce he became president, Mr.
Wilson has enforced his views upon
congress in large degree and gen.
orally with good results. Now and
then, however, there must be excep'
tons.
Il agree with Senator Chamberlain
that the president does not know the
real 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
members Of his cabinet.
"Shall the congress not be per,
mitted 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?
81 cannot believe our duty to the
people would be performed by such
weak abdication of responsibility
To use slang, "it's up to u.s.
Hitchcock charged specifically that
The war department has faller
down in most Of it's important func
tions.
Secretary Bakers efforts to cor
rect defects in his department Woult
be futile. -,
The transportation system has fal
len down and is Gigantic wreck
There is no power to coordinate
transportation across the Atlantic
and production here.
Lack of proper directing authority
has resulted in the present fuel sit
uation.
The present condition of our shil
building is nothing less than shock
ing"
Efforts to move food for our allie:
and ourselves have miscarr1ed.
The Nebraska senator asserted tha
this situation was due to the failure
to make the various department
work together and coordinate thei
efforts.
"The president is quoted as object
ing to any change in the law ON tn
ground that he is responsible for tn
conduct of the war" Hitchcock said
at would be a monstrous wrong t.
hold him responsible for the man.
shortcomings because nothing but tn
genius of perfection and the powe
of omniscience could enable one mai
to look after these vast interests.
"He cannot at one time design ant
conduct our different foreign policy
perform the duties of commander il
chief of the army and navy, act a
his own prime minister, design al
LEGISLATION for congress to pass, die
tate all industrial. financial and polii
ical activities OF the country AM
look after the expenditure of $3.50
900 900 a week. 1t is out of the ques
ton and out of reason
Taking up the failures of the wa
department" Hitchcock declared til
military affairs committee, afte
considering the revelations made
it's investigation, decided it will serv
no purpose to make scapegoats OF
few individuals.
: ut decided it would perform it
| highest duty by recommending to tn