Licking Valley courier., 1918-01-17

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His continuance In the cabinet posi-
tion he holds has been the object OF |
attack, both in the committee and in
the country generally, and with full
knowledge Of that fact he appeared
with q long and detailed statement OF
the war departments doings that serv-
ed as an elaborate defense Of II and Of
himself as Its head. Summing up the
departments chief accomplishments,
Mr.. Baker said large army Is in the
field and in training. enlisted and Sc
lected without serious dlslOcatlon Of
the country's Industries; its subsis-
tence Is above criticism. its clothing
supply Is now substantially complete;
arms of the most modern kind have
been provided by manufacture or pur-
chased for the soldiers In France and
will be available for every man who
can be got to France In 1918; sub
stantlal army is already on French
soil and ready for active service, and
lines of communication and supply
and vast storage ana rrrSSer er.1ncinn.iss
are in process of construction therel
great programs for the manufacture Of
additional equipment and new instru-
ments OF war have been Formulated.
The American army now In the field
or In training, Mr.. Raker said. num-
.bered neariy a inilIion and a half. and
he added: "No army Of similar size In
the history of the world has ever been
raised. equipped or trained so quickly.
No such provision has ever been made
for the comfort, health and general
well-being of an army"
The secretary did not undertake to
deny that weak places in the depart
ment's organization had been dlscov-
cred, but maintained that the reOrgan-
izatlon of bureaus and the creation Of
the war council had brought strength
and efficiency. eve can now see the
entire situation" he said. "The initial
rush needs are substantially supplied.
The technical corps have been expand
ed and reOrganized upon Industrial and
efficient lines"
Despite Mr.. Bakers defense, the
sentiment In congress for a separate
cabinet department of munitions seems
to be growing stronger and the Repub'
/ llcan members set day to consider
the adoption of q resolution favorlng
such action.
Problems Of Labor and Fuel.
Secretary of Labor Wilson asserts
there is an amply supply of labor In
the country, but the problem Is one OF
proper adjustment. Therefore the gov
ernment has set In motion the machln
cry for the mobilization and dlstrlbu
ton of an army Of about 3,0OO,OOt
workers for agriculture, shlpbulldini
and war contract plants. A network
OF interrelated labor exchanges will b,
established to recruit workers ant
transfer them from one section to an
other according to the demands. Johl
b. Densmore OF Montana was selecte'
to he national director of this service
More inslstent and more immediate
ly painful than the labor problem |
the matter of fuel The coal shortage
blamed by some authorities on the Sc
fish greed Of the operators, became s
pronounced last week, especially I
the east, that many Industries wer
forced to close their doors and man
more went on part time.
In the house of representative
there was sharp criticism of the fee
eral fuel administration and one col
gressman declared that If the govern
ment could not control prices It shoul
take over the mines Fuel Admin
traitor Garfield ON Thursday announce
the appointment Of Murk-h H. -pteeeetNSdat -npteetNSda-
Oakland, Cal, to take charge OF h
oil industry OF the country, and II WI
! understood the government would tai
: over the control Of fuel oil as II has
y y coal. Distribution Of the oil will cor
' first and later the question OF prl
u regulation will be taken up. One mo
u desirable result of this move will be
7 assure the navy nn adequate supp
u of oil, which is the fuel of most of I
" recently built vessels.
e II the women Of America win I
u right to vote, us seems probable,
u suffraglsts will have to thank the m
y whom they have scolded. abused n
~ plcketed for long time. The Sus
n II. Anthony amendment was approx
l. by the house Thursday by only [
bare two-thlrds majority required, a
'e Il Is fair to assume that II would |
ie have carried II President Wilson h
y not given Il hearty and unexpected
n sgsement, Fifteen Southern Der
he crat. rta voted against national s
frage two ears ago voted for It t
time. af the votes in favor NJ
u. amendment, 1856 wef,(nS'S' S'S' ny ~
~ llcans. The resoluti, wv ~
y the senate, where the .
o. several converts to Gu