The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-01-24

MAKES REPLY TO
PRESIDENT WILSON
DECLARES NEVER BEFORE HAD
ILLS OWN VERACITY BEEN
QUESTIONED.
SEC. BAKER
Declares War Department, Had II Been
Effective, Could Have Prevented "the
Hundreds and the Thousands OF
Deaths at COntOnments."

Washington, Jan. Outstanding firm
by his charge that Americas military
establishment is enmeshed in ineflicien.
cy, Senator Chamberlain of Oregon,
chairman Of the military committee, re-
piled in the senate today to President
Wilson'S denmciatiOn of his recent
New York speech by repeating the state
ment which drew the presidents fire
and declaring that the president himself
does not know the truth
Senator Chamberlain. after having
read to the senate verbatim copy of
the speech for which the president de.
nounced him, declared that he adhered
to what he had said
In beginning his address, Senator
Chamberlain said the president had at
tackled both his veracity and integrity,
heretofore unchallenged, but that in re-
plying he did so without any personal
feeling against the president
Says His Record Unstained
For twentyfour years" Senator
Chamberlain said, "T have served the
public in my state to the best of nv
ability and in all that time have never
had my veracity called in question nor
my integrity impeached through some
bitter campaign
1T is, therefore, with some feeling
Of humiliation and also sadness that 7
rise to a question Of personal privilege
when my veracity has been called in
question, not by an ordinary citizen, not
by one of my colleagues but by a very
distinguished gentleman who has the
love and admiration of the people. and
who by their grace occupies the highest
place in the gift Of the people, and I
may say the highest place of any man
in the would.
therefore, it is with much feeling
that l rise to address myself to the
attack made on me, and do so without
any feeling OF unkindness."
Senator Chamberlain declared he
would show that the deaths of the hun.
dreds and the thousands Of men at can.
tonments were due to the "v.ar depart.
ment and all epidemics could have been
prevented if the war department had
been more effective"
affects Entire World"
The personal charges against me
amount to nothing to the American
people but affect policies which NAV
involve the future of the country. if
not the entire world" he said.
Senator Chamberlain said he had haep
invited to speak before the National
Security League, accepted on short M.
tice and without time to prepare an
address, He then reiterated that he
assumed responsibility for the speech as
reported by the newspapers. and no
mad read to the senate a verbatim re.
port published in the New York Times
Upon his return to Washington. Sen.
ator Chamberlain said he received a
letter from President Wilson containinf,
a quotation taken from the New York
World, and asking if the quotation was
correct. The president wrote that he
did not like to comment upon the state
ments until he knew positively that the
senator had actually made them.
Senator Chamberlain replied that he
mad quoted substantially correct in The
World, but asked the president to read
the entire speech as printed in The
Times, instead Of only a part Of it.
Wrote to President.
In his letter the senator also offered
to go over the whole question with the
president, but said he received no reply
and on the following day the presi.
dents statement criticising him was
published
The presidents statement and sena.
tor Chamberlain's reply then were read
to the senate.
Now that my truthfulness has been
questioned" Senator Chamberlain CON.
tinued, II feel it my duty to tell the
country something L might not have
told it under ordinary circumstances. I
do 1t as man who loves his country
best of all and who would willingly
give his life for it. do it fearlessly as
an American citizen who desires 70 help
! and not to hinder.
lie repeated he had not distorted the
truth in his speech made in New York.
{ Dut that owing to the great rush of
business, due to the war, the president
mas probably not been able to ascer.
tain the truth, and does not know tbe
= truth. From the lips of those closest
. to the president the chief executive
cannot learn the truth, not because his
b. advisers desire to mislead him, brt be.
) cause they are situated in the same
, position as he is, the senator declared.
= Criticises Secretary.
=. THE secretary Of war, in a general
.. statement to the country, which was