Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-29
STONE STAMPED
AS PRO-GERMAN
DEMANDS THAT PEG.
PIE BE TOLD WHOLE
TRUTH.

Washington. D. c., Jan. 25.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt in a speech late yester-
day before the National Press club, as
serted his right to criticise the conduct
of the war and declared it to be every
mans duty to expose inefficiency if it
retards the work of the war making
machinery.
In answer to an attack made on him
recently in the senate by Senator
Stone, he said the speech was an in
sidious effort in behalf of Germany,
and that the Missouri SENATOR who
had done all he could to serve Ger
many in opposing war legislation, had
been the first to inject partisan poll
tics into the war
FOR REFORM BILLS.
Colonel Roosevelt came out in open
support of Senator Chamberlain pro-
posals for a war cabinet, and a NUM-
tons department.
"The proposal" he said, "means that
at least proper scheme of administra-
tion will be adopted by the govern
ment. I am we'll aware that no scheme
can accomplish anything unless the
right men are put in-but at least we
will get proper scheme of admins
tration. In Washington you have a
good many star players, but mighty
little team work"
NoN-PARTisAN QUESTION.
While the speech contained little
criticism of individuals, the colonel
spoke of the Observation-Disclosures" of
the war department in warmly prais-
ing the work of the senate committee.
AS to the worth of Investigations lie
said it was the duty of congress to get
at the truth and he quoted from the
writings of President Wilson when at
Princeton, advocating congressional in
ouiry into the acts of the administra-
ton.
Declaring the present is no time for
politics, Colonel Roosevelt said:
"No public servant and no private
citizen in his public relation at this
time has any business to consider par
tisan politics in any way"
DEMAND FOR TRUTH.
He said he criticised the conduct of
the Spanish war and that his action
then showed he believed himself to be
performing his duty now. 1t was never
1uOTS u0CeSSdTy Ildll INV, uc SdAu, "
tell the people the truth.
"If conditions are good" said he,
"tell the truth. II they are bad. tell
the truth. If they have been bad and
have become good tell the truth
The navy department, the colonel
added. inefficient six months ago, is
now doing excellent work. The work
of shipbuilding, he declared, now is in
excellent hands. For the coordination
of shipping operations he recommend
ed the appointment Of one man to be
put in supreme charge Of the operation
of all vessels.
FOR WAR TO VICTORY.
Colonel Roosevelt called for con
tinuation of war until victory is won.
"If any man." he said. "is not in
favor of putting this war through to
the peace of a complete victory, he is
not loyal American. Do not forget
that the surest way to win the respect
of foe as well as friend is to show that
this country really fights when it gets
into a fight. Don't hit at all if you
can help it; don't hit man if you can
honorably avoid it; but if you do hit
| him, put him to sleep"
ACTION COMES FIRST.
The way to do things, Colonel Roosc
welt declared. is to do them and then
discuss it.
''That was the course ! followed and
, to which l have ever looked back or
since with impenitent satisfaction ir
reference to the Panama canal.
might have taken the matter under ad
visement and put it before the senate
in which case we would have had q
number of most able speeches on the
subject I preferred we should have
the canal first and the discussion
afterwards. And now, instead Of dis
cussing the Panama canal before II
was built, which would have beer
harmful, they merely discuss me, dis
cussion which | regard with benign
! interest"