Evening journal., 1918-01-24
HTS
BACK At PRESIDENT
Tells Senate Wilson Does
Not Know Truths
of the War
TINE TO SIlELVE
SONE, HE SAYS
BY the United Press.

This was the answer sent back TO the
White House by Senator Chamberlain
on the noor Of the Senate today, in a
dramatic reply TO President Wilson.
who had charged the Senator With dis
tortion OF the truth in criticizing the
War Department work.
The President. he said, does not
know the truth From the lips Of those
nearest he cannot learn it-because
these men.are too busy TO set IL or re-
member it il they got It,"
He charged that Baker did not tell the
whole truth before the military conf
mitiee.
Declaring that mo man on Gods
/ green fOotstool can keep from telling
/ the truth, according TO the dictates Of
NY conscience" Chamberlain demanded
that America retire TO "innocuous
/ desuetude' men in the militia. estan-
/ lishment, men who have failed 20 come
/ up 10 the needs OF the situation.
For p years Chamberlain said. u
have served my state in various capa-
| cities. In all that time / have poVeg
| had my yeracity questioned or nay in
/ tegrty impeached and have been
/ ih~ough as bitter campaigns as have
fallen to the lot Of men.
therefore, 1t is with some feeling Of
/ humiliation and sadness that rlso
when my veracity has been questioned
not by an ordinary citizen, noe by )ne
Of my colleagues. but by the very dis
tinguished gentlemen, who has the love
and respect OF the American people and
who, by their suferance. holds the
highest Office In the land, and may
say the highest place in the world
1T Is. therefore, with a peculiar feel
Ing that | add. ess myself 10 tn attack
on me. The personal differences be-
tween the President and myself do not
matter TO the g eat mass Of the Ameri-
can people But great policies are at
issue between the President and me.
which involve the well being OF the
nation.
"A few days ago / was invited by
the National Security League TO de-
liver an address IN New York. Among
the distinguished men there were Elhu
Root, Judge Alton b. Parker and
man, though born in a land now at
war with US, Is now foremost
patrlot-Nathan' 'Straus, OF California.
THE 1000 people there represented
every walk Of life and was a body that
for patriotism could not be cxcelled
anywhere.
without having time to prepare an
address, because OF multiplying duties
delivered an cXiemnO~aueOus talk
That address as reproduced in the New
lo,k Times I stan1 fully behind.
Il want the Senate to hear that article
read before / proceed TO reply to the
charges that ! made misstatement
therein Senator Chamberlain submit
ted the article, which was read by the
clerk.
lie followed that win a letter he re-
ceiyed sunday from the President
quoting from the New York speech and
o king II Chamberlain had made the
statement referred to-that the military
establishment had broken down because
of ineflciency in virtually all depart
ments.
Chamberlain read his reply. a long
letter in which he said he had been cor
rectly quoted and repeating that since
Bunker Hill we have never had
policy"
In that letter Chamberlain offered 10
go over the testimony given at the SEN
ate military investigation with the
President.
81 got no reply to that letter." said
Chamberlain. but on Monday the
President issued a statement" (lt was
cad into the Recordl
BY this time interest in Chamberlain's I
speech had drawn more than 200 House /
membe,s into the Senate chamber to /
hear him. Even the diplomatic gallery /
usually deserted was half fun Of /
women.
"The statement OF the President"
Senator Chamberlain continued "chal- |
lenges me. OF course. as to the truth Of
the statements in the New York Times /
These statements ! now repeat and az
firm"
Whether my colleagues or the coun- /
try will take the same evidences by the |
four corners and reach the same con- !
clusion that ! did, do not know.
Members Of the military committee |
Democrats and Republicans have gone /
into this situation with a single pur-
pose IN view. They have done 10 with I
out fear and without hope Of reward.
Il felt u my duty as an American /
citizen 20 say what / did ] felt II I /
could make q rift in the clouds that
would let the sunlight on the situation /
the work would not have been In vain. I
"Inasmuch as my veraclty has been /
questioned must tell the country some /
things which perhaps otherwise |
would not have told it
What propose to do ! am doing as |
any man does who loves his country" /
Then, after a short pause he shouted /
Il have not distorted the truth as has |
been charged"
THE President does not know the /
truth From the lips Of those who
bave testified here, and who are closest /
to him, he cannot learn the truth, be- I
cause these mon a~e too husv 10 Fet I
It, or 70 remember 70 II they got ~.
If the administration wanted TO be I
fair 10 the American people why did .
not Secretary Baker tell the truth and I
let the American people assist in getting I
ready for to torr bio calam'tv that Is
facins not only America, but the whole /
world?
Secretary Baker in a general state I
ment 10 the country says S2.200 100000 /
bad heon anrron~iated for dnance and
that millions In contracts have been
let" said Chamberlain That's all true,
but the secretary fails 70 say that
America is totally unprepared today
with ordnance
Il challenge anybody to read the tes- |
ilmony before the military affairs COM |
mttee and come TO any other concm-
sion
poor bleeding France, bled white /
- a.,s- H.,-,ff ht,F f- fs,rrfab j