The Washington herald., 1918-01-30

AhC 6PCCSh VI OSNi GdhSA -
the last big event OF several which
have unquestionably strengthened
American morale. both in and out OF
the army, and which have woven our
cause more closely around American
hearts.
There are the things which have
come out Of the discussions and the
talks started when the Senate mill
tary investigators began their work:
First, There has been a steadier
flow of Information to the people.
The ones who pay the money and
furnish the boys and men for the
fighting abroad are therefore ap-
prised OF what is being done with
both money and men.
Second, There Is to be frequent con-
sultation of Congress by the Presi-
dent. and not SO great isolation of
the President as has been noted in
the past. Congress and the President
will work hand in hand instead of
blindly and without conference.
Third, Departments which have
cen lax in administration are going to
be speeded up-in fact, in many in
stances they have already attained
"OuueIiuliy surprising bpteu III
comparison with their past efforts.
Fourth, All ofncials having to do
even intimately or remotely with the
conduct of the war are going to
guard carefully against carelessness
and near-corruption.
Fifth, A reckoning from cause to
steps are taken.
fwfh poroaIiaa NJ xr-fll
continue to be offered for the COM
plete eradication of the red-tape
worm from our amry system.
This outline Is sufficiently impress
sive, so the members Of Congress are
ready to admit, to make them be-
lieve that the Senatorial investiga-
ton has been very much worth
while.
The letters from the people indicate
the country is unitedly behind the
desire of the Senate committee to
eliminate waste and incompetency
and the red-tape worm. And these
same letters, to a multitude OF men,
bers of Congress, indicate the people
do not think the Senate committee
would have done its full duty had 1t
not taken up the investigation when 1t
was proposed.
So far as the war cabinet bill Is
pop out" on the Senate calendar and
stay there for seme time to come. 1t
will be reachable II the President
later changes his views upon II, or If
the members of the Senate committee
want to amend it or modify it to meet
later demands. 1t may be the sub
ject of very extended debate-and it
may not. At this moment it is hard
to tell what will happen.
While so far as the munitions d.
rector is concerned Mr.. Baker. and
the President, have named the very
man to an exalted position whom
members of the Senate committee
thought would I'LL the munitions d.
rectorship position with credit to
himself, and with profit to his
country. He is not clothed with
the amount Of authority the Senate
1t may be that up for this laxity.
At any rate, the selection of Mr..
Stettinius is a concession to the
oChdNo anu ulSSiGCt
move on the part of the President
and his Secretary of War.
The policy of concealing facts
about this government has received
a knockout blow in the past few
weeks. And the start Of the Senate
military investigation was the be-
ginning Of the end. Congress is
willing that the policy of conceal-
ment shall be numbered now among
our governmental antiques, and
that IL shall nevermore be listed
with our governmental chattels. A
profound support of this notion is
found among the people of the
country. too, many of the members
Of Congress insist. They point out
that the Investigations were
brought on by the people them
selves.
A perusal of the foupeeen peace
provisos laid down by President
Wilson reveals that besides the two
reasons for which we went to war,
there are TWELVE additional rea-
sons now why we must stay In the
war until the end. Once in as we
pointed out several weeks ago, we
could subscribe to no other course
than virtual Endorsement OF all the
war aims Of our allied nations. This
follows as day the night--and as
soon = 0ermauy Refa this through