The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-02-02

terms of peace, so far as they concern
Belgium itself, are absolute political,
economic and territorial independence,
equitable PREPARATION and guarantees
for the future.
-Ea-
The British labor party in conven-
ton at Nottingham declared its posi-
ton in the matter of war and peace.
A resolution was adopted welcoming
and indorsing the statements of Prem
Ter Lloyd George and President Wilson
and calling on the central powers to
formulate their war aims at the ear
Hest possible moment. Speakers gave
high praise to Mr.. Wilson's statement,
and it was made clear that the party
would not stand for peace negotiations
with Germany while she holds. the ter
ritories she has seized.
la
Fuel Administrator Garfield's indus
trial shutdown was far from being
wholly successful in relieving the coal
shortage and railway tie-up. For this
the plan was not entirely to blame,
for heavy SHOWS in the eastern part
of the country interviewed to prevent
the free movement of coal trains.
Consequently Mr.. McAdoo was con-
strained to declare an embargo on
three of the largest coal carrying roads
of the East, forbidding the transporta-
ton of any freight save fuel, munitions
and foodstuffs. The situation, espe-
cially on the Atlantic seaboard, still Is
most serious.
Partisan politics reared its ugly
head in congress last week and en-
tered into the discussion of the con-
duct of the war. So far 1t has done
little harm, and perhaps 1t cannot be
kept down in an election year. Sena-
tors Penrose and Stone were the chief
offenders, the former attacking the adj
ministration and the latter having the
effrontery-con considering his own record
to assail the patriotism of Colonel
Roosevelt.
Interest in the doings of congress
conferred on the Chamberlain bill for a
war cabinet, the introduction of which
was perhaps fastened, though not
caused, by the investigation of Secre-
tary Bakers department. The presi-
dent had forcefully, even angrily de-
clared his opposition to the measure
/ and his absolute confidence In Mr..
Bakers ability and efficiency, and the
defeat of the bill was predicted, al
though it had the support Of many SEN
ators of both parties,
Mr. Wilson in public statement ac-
cused Senator Chamberlain of making
! ian astonishing and absolutely unjus
! tifiable distortion of the truth" In q
New York speech, In which the Ore
gon senator told of the failures of the
war department. In replying to this
in the senate, Mr.. Chamberlain reiter
ated his charges and undertook tt
prove them by citations from the In
vestigation by the senate committee.
The senator scored the war depart
ment numerically, and produced docu
mentary proof that Secretary Baker
when before the senate committee, wa!
ignorant of the actual conditions In tn,
matter of supplies to the army camps
"The president" he said, "did no
know the truth, and I did. He mus
have got his facts from his distinguish
ed secretary Of war and he in turn go
them from somebody else, and If thos
who furnished the evidence knew tn
facts, they lied"
In the course Of his speech MI
Chamberlain read q heartbreaking let
ter from father telling of the dealt
of his son in an army camp under mos
astounding conditions of neglect. Al
terward Secretary Baker said of thi
that it was not a singular case, tina
there had been several such due to tn
lack of nurses, and that each one ha
been rigidly Investigated.
The hot discussion over the ineff
cheney Of our war preparations cor
tinues undated and is reaching tn
stage where it becomes personal an
vicious. The thick-and-thin supper
ers of the administration declare til
critics of some Of Its acts are border
ing on treachery because they Civ
, comfort to the enemy, while those VIII
, criticize assert that only by letting th
public know the faults that are bein
committed can those faults be, correc
: ed. Their course, they hold, is di
! tated by the purest patriotism.
: -@-
General Tasker III. Bliss, chief (
staff, has arrived In Paris to represer
the American army In the suprem
war council. It Is believed he will urs