The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-01-26
Chamberlain Pictures
Woe At Cantonments

ages of overcoats running as high as
seventy-five per cent, the senator re
minded the senate that the troops were
lin the midst of winter"
81 am going to show that these hun
dreds and thousands of men dying in
the cantonments are due to the war de-
partment," he declared.
From Men in Camp.
This information comes right from
the men who are on the ground" They
know what they are talking about [
didn't intend to do this. but in view Of
the situation that confronts me and
involves my intregity l feel it Is my
duty to the country.
"I am going to call attention to the
statement Of Surgeon General Gorgas
that nearly all epidemics could have been
prevented if the war department had
been effective" Senator Chamberlain
referred to the warnings given by
Major General Greble, commander at
Camp Bowie, Texas, last summer
against overcrowding men in tents.
Men at Camp Bowie, the senat>- de
clared, were packed together like sar-
dines," and despite frequent warnings,
disastrous epidemics broke out in Decem-
Der with 5000 men passing through
the hospitals
Men died" he asserted without
proper nursing because of ineficiencies
of the system. l challenge yoI to
read the record All the cantonments
are arteries of information and | hope
TO God that every young man will write
his father or mother and tell them just
what the conditions are, not to stay
patriotism, but to stimulate those in
authority to do their duty"
Says Surgeon General Ignored.
General Gorgas report, he continued,
showed overcrowdlng in virtually every
camp and he asserted that the surgeon
general of eminent reputation, had not
been consulted regarding cantonment To-
cations.
Think of that" Senator Chamber
lain shouted. He was not even con
suited with reference to the sites and
not a single cantonment was built in
accordance with his recommendations
for fifty feet Of space for each man"
Senator Chamberlain then read pre-
viously published reporIs or camp con
ditions. showing lack Of winter cloth
| ing in some instances, overcrowding
and prevalence of measles and inter
rupted to refer to Secretary Bakers
statement to the committee that "every-
thing was all right at these canton.
ments.'
Senator Chamberlain said if Surgeon
| General Gorgas' recommendations fo"
greater space had been observed, dis
ease at least would have been reduced.
"Have these recommendations been
followed?" asked Republican Leader
Galinger.
As to the Trenches.
They are attempting 10, in some
places. but the recommendations have
not been carried out. If these are the
conditions existing with soldiers IN
their home country, what must be the
fate of the boys sent to Europe to meet
the dangerous and treacherous condi-
tions of warfare?" replied Senator
| Chamberlain.
That is why I say" he continued,
! that the president dlu not KNOW Ihe
truth. And I did. He must have gotten
| his facts from the secretary, who, ID
turn. got them from somebody else
and somebody must have lied And
that's why l say the president has not
been given the truth"
Striding out into the center Of the
aisle, in an attitude Of defiance he
shouted: 81 feel it my duty to my coun.
try and my conscience to tell the truth
/ have no fear of God, man or devil
when my conscience prompts, And nc
man in the country can keep me from
telling the truth. The only thing is that
this discussion may have bad effect
on the country, but if the conditions eX
list they ought to be corrected, and
quickly. Great Britain found the same
conditions and corrected them quickly
So did France"