Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-22
SENATOR WEEKS
SAYS WILSON IS
PLAYING POLITICS

Washington, Feb. 15.-President Will
son was charged with deliberately in
jecting politics into the controversy
over war efficiency by Senator Weeks
a Republican member Of the military
committee, in a speech today vigor-
ously criticising the war department
and other branches of the govern
ment.
Supporting the military committees
war cabinet and munition director
bills as constructive, non-partlsan
effort to aid and not embarrass Presl-
dent Wilson. in unifying Americas
war force, Senator Weeks detailed de-
lays and difficulties of the govern
ment's military preparations. He oe-
clared that lack of a central BODY 10
make and direct all of the govern
ments war plans is largely RESPONSE
Bile for present and past troubles.
In his charge against President Will
son the senator said:
Not a question indicating partisan
ship was raised until the president de-
liberately injected politics into the sit
uation by an attack on the chairman
of the committee Senator Chamber
ain OemocraO, and the committee
itself and by calling to the Whlte
House many Democratic party lead
ers, not for consultation purposes, but
to insist that a discussion OF THIS
question on the floor Of the senate DE
prevented if possible. Have we come
to a pass that the action of the most
important committee in congress at
this time is to be forbidden by the
PRESIDENT"
Referring to Secretary Baker, Sen
ator Weeks said after praising many
army achievements:
Neither do 1 wish to unjustly or
unreservedly criticise the head of the
war department. He has had to deal
with multitude of questions, the dls-
posal of many of which meet my ap-
prevail 1t would require too much
time to enumerate. The secretary mas
done that effectively in his speech to
the committee jan 28
IF I were to criticise the secretary
personally it would be that he has
undertaken to do too many Things
himself, some of which might have
been left to subordinates. If l were
to make further criticism it would
relate to his temperamental relation
ship to the war. Doubtless he him.
self would admit that he is a pacifis:
by nature. For example, even now
he is opposed to universal military
training and I cannot divorce myself
from the conclusion, based on hli
own testimony, that he has been IN
clined to plan for prosecution OF the
war-and this condition has to some
degree permeated the department
on the basis that we're 5000 miles
aWav from the front, instead of has
tening preparation with all the vigol
we would exercise if our borders were
the battle front"
Referring to Mr.. Bakers reply wheT
asked by the committee whether 9TH
err men could not have done thing:
| better. that he did not know all the
men in the world and could no
| Judge their capabilities Senator Week
said the answer was somewhat flip
pant and that it is impossible to ex
pect a department whose head makes
| such a statement to make many
changes which an outside investiga
ton has shown to be necessary.
zone of the notable features of tht
present situation" Senator Weeks
contended, sis the virulence used il
attacking those who favor the com
nnittee's plan of Capitalization" The.
are referred to as plotters, mischiev
Gus meddlers and even as servitor
of the enemy. Every means of fals'
suggestion has been used to discredi
a sincere and loyal attempt to make {
| change which will materially increas'
the efficiency of our war administra
ton"
Asserting that it is physically i'm
possible" for the president to 1nd1
vidually coordinate and direct al
the governments functions, Senator
Weeks added:
Can it be possible that the presi
dent will be embarrassed by such {
cabinet? 1t would seem as if HI
| would be embarrassed to a greater
extent by a perpetuation Of the dis
iointed situation that now exists, {
situation that failed to produce ships
notwithstanding the shipping plans
which has failed to deliver coal, not
withstanding the unbounded coal sup
ply we have; which has been respon
sible for a failure to protect our sol
diers against sickness and furnish
them with suitable clothing.
1--WE are the inventors and leader
in aeroplanes and yet we have nj
aeroplanes. We have the creates
steel works in the world, and yet W.
have few guns. We lead the worlt
in automobile manufacture, and We
we are just commencing to Obtain
motor trucks; and worst of all, tn
system we have is responsible TO
camp hospitals not having heat, waite
or sewerage
Furnishing of food to the army
Senator Weeks said. has been "a tire
mendous success, due to Ger
Sharpe He also praised Gen. Gro
zier, chief of ordnance, saying he ha
often asked congress for more ord
nance appropriations but that sent
ment in the country prevented ap
preparations Gen. Crozier, however
he declared, was partly responsible 70
deficiencies in machine guns and ngl
ordnance.
Reliance on France for ordnanc
and other materials he said was ''ver
doubtful wisdom" and the powde
situation was described as acut
with half of American productio
under contract to the Allies and on
total capacity not half Of our needs.
Aviation work, the senator concet
ed. has been carried out intelligent
and Systematically.
while the actual number of ms
chimes constructed" he said, doe
not compare favorably with impress
siono ciUep TO the Dublic if iS rapre