Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-09-05
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ITO doth not afflici willingly. nor gritt
ho children Of men. Lsm. a.l'.
THE SCANDAL or TlIE WAR.
Without u disaontlug voice, the
senate military affairs committee,
having majority OF IN membership
composed Of democrats. declared ON
August 22 that tho aircraft program
had fallen down IN every important
particular, and that this ieplorablc
result is chiefly due to mistakes IN
selecting tho men first placed In
charge. Il Is one more instance u
The vvll resulta that flow from tho
tendency OF the administration 20
place a premium on incxporionco.
Briefly summed up. the commit.
toe found that substantial part o.
the original aircraft appropriation or
teAO'OoO'0oo had been wasled: we
had not al that date a single Ameri.
can-made plane OF attack upon the
battle front, we had not a slngls
Amerloan-mAde heavy bombing
plane upon the battle front: we
have not developed and put In ouan.
Wy production a successful fighting
plane. wa failed at the beginning
OF the war EayA the report TO
adopt the common-aenze couran Of
reproducing the most approved types
or European machines In as great
numbers as possible. This should
have been carried on coincldent win
the production Of the Liberty motor.
This sound policy has very recently.
but after a lamentablo lapse OF time
been adopted"
II Ia not waste OF money that
meets severest criticism. but waste |
OF lives and the delay Of tho war
With consequent indirect and con
tlnuoua waste OF llfe on every battle. |
Held. Instead OF speeding production |
OF machines known 10 be service. |
able, tho administration began ey.
perlments as though there we're no
end OF time TO get ready. and as |
though the war were three militia,
miles away instead OF merely threo
thousand as Secretary Baker ex.
pressed IT, without sufficient tests.
the Bristol machine was put in quan.
tl'y production, only to be- con
demnod and put In storage after
1900 had been manufactured at a
cost OF 100000 and the sacrifice
OF numerous livcs An oral order
was given for the manufacture OF
three thousand spads. a machine of
the highest type, but after work had.I
commehcod the order was cancelled
because It was believed tho machine
could not be operated with "A Lib
sriy motor Later. a new contract
vas made for the same machine. We
have finally seemed to get satisfac
.ory results from the De HayDapd
'ut the committee considers that
mn an experiment
The whole humillatinp story shows
no Inability OF the administration
@ understand tho value OF exper-
enee' aud emphasizes tho grave mis-
AXE made by the president more
han year ago when no used the
'ower Of his office 10 defeat tbo
Weeks Maddgn measure creating .,
oint committee on the conduct o,
he war That measure was intro.
Iuced In both senate and houso on
\pril .. 1917. three days after Amer
ca entered the war II proposed a
ommlttee OF the ables. men IN both
arues In both houses ~ congress-
% confer with tho executive depart.
rents aud the president In order 70
coordinate war workd ana speed
he war 20 victory The powerful
ppostion OF the president prevent.
a any action whatever until July
J, when Senator Weeks offered the
revision as an amendment TO the
'od control bill The merits Of tho
ropoal were 90 generally appre-
ated In the senate that after SEM
Tor Weeks had accepted an amend
'ent Offered by Senator owen. Il
as adopted by a vote OF SO 10 81.
he Influence OF tho president with
le democrats IN the house was too
-eat however, and the provision (
% eliminated In conferences be
.use of their objection
In Auagst -i91E.-slsc senate mll-
ny aftaits committee exposed mis-. q