New-York tribune., 1918-02-16

military standpoint I believe it is tho
most Important agency we are furnish
ing. J. have great hopes that our sup
plementing the efforts of the Allies in
providing airpfunes will have very
marked effect on the successful prose-
cutjon Of the war.
"As far as the National Guard camps
arc concerned, all the hospital ar
rangements have been delayed and neg
lcctcd. Major General Grcblc, com
manding the Fort Worth, Tex. camp,
reported to at least four officials OF
the War Department during the month
of September that unless prompt action
were taken there would be sickness and
generalization in his camp. Almost
Immediately aftcrward he was sent to
Europe and did not return until Mo-
vember, but, Notwithstanding his pro-
tests against these conditions, no ac-
tlon was taken to remedy them until
the 18th Of November.
BY that time the camp had become
vast hospital. Of the $4,000 men in
or another in the hospital during the
month of November. The capacity of
the hospital is 800 men. and at one
time it had to accommodate 1900 pa
tcnts--a hospital with no sewerage sys-
tenn and lacking in pretty nearly every
medical requirement. 1t is not sur
prising that there were 200 deaths
within short time at that camp and
numbers of the men SO inadequately
treated that their recovery is matter
of weeks and months.
mo better illustration of the bene-
fits which might accrue from a war
cabinet or planning board, whatever it
may be called, can be found than the
coal situation in the United States.
"Another illustration Of the lack of
cooperative and concentrated effort,
and cutie as apparent an example ae
the coal situation, is that relating to
wool; 1t is important that this prod
uct be controlled by the government
to insure suitable supply of wool for
the clothing for our soldiers. 1t will
be difficult problem to obtain this
wool supply at reasonable prices un
less the government takes such action.
The Wool Situation
81 refer to this particular subject
not so much to show what has not
been done, but to enable me to ex-
press the opinion that the wool ques-
ton should be given immediate con-
slderation. In the extreme Southwest
the shearns has already commenced,
and in the ordinary course of con-
ductng that business, if it is not al
ready the case, the wool will drift into
the hands of dealers, and it NAV be
impossible to control the situation un-
less concerted action is taken. The
government should control the entire
wool supply, using what it needs for
It's own purposes and turning the bal
ance over to private consumption
"Whatever may be the difference of
opinion as to the merits Of all-wool
clothing and clothing containing a Ger
tai ~ e1,-
be universal agreement that if there
IS to be any depreciation in the quail
ity Of cloth it should not apply to the
clothing Of the men doing our fight
ing. We civilians should wear the
clothing Of lesser warmth and value,
and it is my Judgment that this ques-
ton cannot be adequately controlled if
action is not taken by the government
at this time. OF course | am not re-
ferring to the failure of last year. nor
VIII the action | urge correct it, That
faiiure would not have been possible
1t we had had planning board or war
cabinet to consider such questions and
determine suitable governmental
action.
"Another illustration in favor of the
war cabinet bill. Stability of labor is
rapid construction. The concentration
of the work being done for the govern
mert is one of the alarming features
OF the present situation. 1t is reported
that S6 per cent of the war activities
OF the government are concentrated in
section east of Pittsburgh, bounded
on the north by Massachusetts and on
the south by Virginia. This necessi-
tates a large additional force Of
trained mechanics in that particular
region. and in order to get these me-
chanlcs they must be provided with
the best living conditions possible
schools, churches. places of recreation,
and housing as we'll.
Some OF the largest activities are
peIng earned on i'll sections which can
not possibly provide suitable accom-
modations for the additional labor re- re-
CURED. The result is that men come
to these places, work short time. or
until they get enough money to take
then, back to their homes. preferrinr
the lower wages in the sections where
they. have always lived to undergoing
the hardships forced upon them in the
localities where their services arc so
greatly needed
Short]yi after the beginning of the
war the housing shortage in certain
sections of the country developed to
such an extent that it became an OBJ
stacle to industrial production, and as
lar back as last June this subject was
H',Nusseu' IaTScc'ng men could lot
help recognizing the inevitable result
of the conditions surrounding our war
industries. The Committee on Emer-
gency Construction attempted to han
die it, the Council Of National Defence
held hearings, housing committee
was appointed and presented a report,
but all of these actions were advisory
These committees had no power to act,
and their efforts, therefore, were fruit
= "1n the mean time the Shipping
Board has. actually undertaken hous-
ing in few places, but it was not
until January ii of this year when
all housing matters were placed under
the jurisdiction of an Advisory Coun-
Gil of Labor, with Mr.. John Lind at the
head, that the first real constructive
step w was taken. The practical way to
tralized, control, preferably by one
man, who should be given full power
IN, the administration of any appro-
priation made for this purpose.
when the Secretary Of War was
before the Military Committee he was
asked if there were things which .oul3