The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-14
BACKS UP BAKER
Head of War Industries Board
COmmends War Dept.
Prefers Present Organization to
a New Munitions Bureau.

Washington. Jan. 15.-Daniel Will
lard. chairman of the war industries
board. today testified in the senate
military committees war inquiry that
he had advocated creation of a gov
eminent minister of munitions. but
now was in favor of trying out the
new war department reorganization
The war department reorga nization
with its change in purchasing MT.
Willard declared .infinitely better
than that of six months ago.
Il am distinctly in favor of what the
secretary of war has done so far he
said. Putting the army purchasing
departments on the most efficient ba-
sis is what is being done. 1 am in full
sympathy with the character of the
organization
Changed His Opinion.
Mr.. Willard said he. thought that
when the country entered the war enc
of the first things to be done was to
establish minister of munitions.
when | became chairman of the
industries board l still held that opin-
ion" he continued.
Secretary Baker however, asked Mr..
willard to keep his mind open until
he considered reorganization plans
had very little confidence at
first, MIR. Willard said. that we could
make the war department reorganiza-
ton work"
With men like General Goethals at
the head of the army activities, how
ever, Mr. Willard said he believed it
would be operated efficiently Army
| and navy supply coordination, he
thought is being effected under the
plan submitted by Secretary Baker
1T has one iault,'' said Mr. Willard
1t is good plan and can be made to
work, but after all it is purely vol
untary. If every one co-operates it
will work. 1t is weak there and some
thing may be necessary to make il
work. single purchasing head is not
necessary
Instead of the war industries board
being the head of the new organiza-
ton Mr.. Willard suggested that one
man, with authority from the presi-
dent to decide differences between va
rious department would secure better
efficiency
THAT would be a director of NUM-
tons" suggested Senator Weeks.
No, I've changed my views on
! that Mr.. Willard answered. The
one man could act under authority
| of the president who should be given
| power by congress"
1T seems to me the present scheme
might be a debating society,"" said
Cham berlain. You've touched the
weak spot in the new organization"
Il would have one man at the head
and have the president have authority
| to do anything at any time that might
| De leSuSu, Sdld w illdtiu
would have one man instead of the
war Industries board, A man with
authority from the president. I would
have this Individual instead of the
war industries board and the control
of national defense-both one man
reporting direct to the president"
Baruch for One Man Control.
BERNARD NJ. Baruch, another mem
Der of the war Industries board called
by the committee also recommended
'one man" control of munitions, a
single individual, not a member of the
cabinet but acting solely and directly
under the president and going even
further than the British system.
Il am in favor of highly centra liked
authority" said Mr.. Baruch. Under
the president he could have power to
take over any agency of the govern
ment he should deem necessary to
have sole authority"