The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-01-22
WILSON DEFENDS
BAKER IN REPLY
TO CHAMBERLAIN
Astonishing Distortion of the
Truth Says President, Of
Senator's Speech.


Wilson issued a statement last night
characterizing as an astonishing and
unjustifiable distortion of the truth"
assertions made by Senator Chamber
lain In a speech at New York Satur-
day concerning inaction and ineffic-
iency on the part of the government
in its war preparations.
When Senator Chamberlain heard
OF the Presidents statement he made
one in reply saying he had spoken
eXtemporaneously at New York and
that his criticisms were directed only
at the military establishments of the
government. He declared he would
press his legislation in spite of the
Presidents opposition.
Investigations conducted at the Cap
L itol the President said, had brought to
| the foreground delays and disappoint-
ments and had contributed to them by
\ drawing officials away from hteir
II work.
Sees Little Improvement.
Nothing helpful or likely to speed up
or facilitate the war tasks of the gov
eminent has come out of such criti-
cis.m and investigation. he added. Leg
islation proposed by the Senate mill
tary committee for the creation of a
war council and a minister of NUM-
tons, the President declared, had
come after effective measures Of re-
organization had been maturely per-
fected.
The President said he regarded Sec
rotary Baker as one of the ablest pub
L lie officials he had ever known, and
that the country soon would learn
whether he or his critics understood
the business at hand.
Text Of Statements.
The text of his statement given out
at the White House and the reply by
Senator Chamberlain follow
When the Presidents attention was
called to the speech made by Senator
Chamberlain at luncheon in New
York on Saturday, he Immediately in
quired OF Senator Chamberlain
whether he had been correctly report
| ed, and upon ascertaining from the
| Senator that he had been, the Pres
ident felt it his duty to make the
following statement:
Senator Chamberlain's statement
as to the present inaction and inef-
fectiveness of the government is an
astonishing and absolutely unjusti-
fable distortion of the truth. AS
| natJBT Oh IdCL, Tue WAL Depdl
has performed task of unparalleled
magnitude and difficulty with extra
ordinary promptness and efficiency.
There have been delays and disap-
pointments and partial miscarriage Of
plans, all of which have been drawn
into the foreground and exaggerated
by the investigations which have been
| In progress since Congress assembled
investigations which drew the in
dispensable officials away from their
work and officers from their COM
4 Eands and contributed a great deeal
to such delay and confusion as had
inevitably had arisen. But by compar
4 ison with what has been accomplish
4 ed. these things, much as they were
II to be regretted. Weere insignificant,
/ and no mistake has been made which
has been repeated.
| Improvement Not Likely.
| Nothing helpful or likely to speed
II up or facilitate the war tasks of the
| government has come out of such criti-
| cism and investigation. I understand
| that reorganization by legislation are
| TO be proposed ! have not been con
| suited about them and have learned
| of them only at second hand, but their
| proposal came after effective meas
| ures of reorganization had been
| thoughtfully and maturely perfected
| and inasmuch as these measures have
| been the result of experience they
| are much more likely than any other
Il Ito be effective, if Congress will but
remove these few statutory obstacles
Il OF rigid departmental organization
| which stand in their way.
g. The legislative proposals | have
|Iheard Of would involve long additional
|Idelays and turn our experience into
|Imere lost motion. My association and
|1constant conference with the secre-
|Itary of war have taught me to regard
Him as one Of the ablest public Of
Acials have ever known. The coun-
TRY will soon know whether he or his
critics understand the business at
uhand.
ITO add, as Senator Chamberlain
did. that there is inefficiency in every
department and bureau of the govern
ant is to show ignorance of actual
NNonditions as to make it impossible
to attach any Importance to his state
ment. | am bound TO infer that it
sprang out of opposition to the admin
istration's whole policy rather than
out OF any serious intention to reform
its practices.
Reply From Chamberlain.
Senator Chamberlain said:
In my New York speech ] had not |
prepared the address and spoke twenty |
minutes eXtemporaneously, without !
notes. ! pointed out that from Buker
Hill TO the present time We had had |
no military organization or policy. |
The press report of my address was |
correct. But my argument was direct |
ed TO the military establishment and |
not to other departments Of the gov
frnment, although it was broad enough |
to be subject to that Interpretation. |
But those hearing it knew | referred !
merely to the military establishment |
and that the Senate military commit
ee had undertaken, through the bills |
FOR a war cabinet and a director OF
munitions. to work out changes in the
establishment
Il explained that these bills were
not administration measures ] did
bot misrepresent them.