The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-22

Washington, Jan. 22--Presld(
night characterizing as all "astonl
of the TRUTH assertions made by
at New York Saturday concerning
of the government in its war prepar'
atoms.
Investigation conducted at the capt.
tol, the president said, had brought to
the foreground delays and disappoint.
ments and had contributed to them by
drawing officials away from their
work.
Nothing helpful or likely to speed
or facilitate the war tasks of the gov.
eminent have come out of such criti'
cisms and investigation" he added.
Legislation Delayed.
Legislation proposed by the sen.
ate military committee for the crea.
ton Of a war council and a minister Of
munitions, the president declared, had
come after effective measures OF re-
organization already had been mature.
ly perfected.
The president said he regarded Sec
rotary Baker as one of the ablest pub
lie officials he had ever known and
that the country soon would learn
whether he or his critics understood
the business at hand.
When Senator Chamberlain heard
of the presidents statement he made
one In reply, saying he had spoken
extemptoraneously at New York n
that his criticisms were directed only.
at the military establishment, not at
other departments of the government.
He declared he would press his legis-
latiOn in spite of the presidents op-
position.
The Presidents Statement.
The statement follows:
when the presidents attention was
called to the speech made by Senator
Chamberlain at a luncheon in New
York on Saturday, he Immediately in
CURED, of Senator Chamberlain wheth-
er heshad been correctly reported, and
upon 55.ascertaining from the senator
that he had been, the president felt
it his duty to make the following
statement:
"'Senator Chamberlain's statement
as to present inaction and Ineffective
ness of the government is an astonish-
ing and absolutely unjustifiable dis
tortion Of the truth. AS a matter of
fact, the war department has per-
formed a task Of unparalleled magni-
tude and difficulty with extraordinary
promptness and efficiency.
Harmful investigations.
@ e ont 49, Lo,,1 Lo1,, Il oIo W., o,,j I:o
appointments and partial miscarriages
of plans, all of which have been drawn
into the foreground and exaggerated
by the investigations which have been
in progress since the congress assemb-
Neutrality-suspicious. which drew in
.dispensable officials of the department
constantly away from their work and
officers from their commands and CON
tributed a great deal to sue hdelay
and confusion as had inevitably arisen.
But By comparison with what had
been accomplished, these things, much
as they were to be regretted, were
insignificant, and no mistake has been
made which has been repeated.
Nothing Helpful in Criticism
Nothing helpful or likely to speed
or facilitate the war tasks Of the
government has come out of such crit
icism and investigation. l understand
that re-organizations by legislation are
to be proposed have not been con-
suited about them and have learned
Of them only. at second hand-but
their proposals came after effective
measures Of reorganization had been
thoukhtfully and maturely perfected,
and inasmuch as thee meaure have
been the result of experience, they
are much more likely than any other
to be effective, il the congress will