Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-22
CONGRESS ALL "HET"
UP AT T. r. SLAP
Continued From Page One.)

into defects in governmental machin-
ery.H
Really there were two battles; one
in the senate, where Stone of Missouri
let loose a speech arraigning the Re-
publicans for their charges that the
president was playing political fav-
orites in his war appointments, and
fiercer barrage from the White
house, where the president issued the
bitterest statement he has yet pro-
mulgated, accusing Senator Chamber
lain, chairman of the military affairs
committee, of ignorance, distorting the
truth and opposing the administra-
tons whole policy under pretense Of
reforming its practice.
Is Bitter Denunciati0n.
The presidents statement was. a
savage denunciation of the war cab
met bill introduced in the senate by
Senator Chamberlain and an answer
to the senator's New York speech ad-
vocating the war cabinet measure and
another bill which provides for a d.
rector of munitions, both of which
the administration CONSTITUTES as being
an assault on its method and system
CT carrying on the war.
In the words of the president:
There have been delays and dis
appointments and partial mis-car-
riages of plan, all OF which have been
drawn into the foreground and exag-
gerated by the Investigations which
have been in progress since the con-
gress neutrality-suspicious. which
drew indispensable officials Of the de-
partment constantly away from their
work and officers from their COM
mands and contributed a great deal
to such delay and confusion as had in
evitably arisen"
Now it comes to straight out and
out fight. Chamberlain insists that
the war requires Reorganization of
the war making bureaus, especially
the war department.
His war cabinet would .elegate Sec
rotary Baker to the position OF an ad-
wiser, and would put his whole ord
nance and quartermaster departments
under the director OF munitions.
Success is Unlikely.
In spite OF the sympathy that some
Of his fellow members are expressing
for Chamberlain, it is improbable that
he vii, succeed. The president has
mace II direct issue.
1t is barely possible that the bills
may carry in the senate, but the house
Of representatives will line up behind
the president
Representative Kitchin, house DEM
ceratic leader, IS opposed TO the Cham
berlain bills Cor war cabinet and a
munitions director; Chairman Dent OF
the military affairs committee and
! Chairman Padgett of the naval ~
fairs committee are opposed also to
steering course IL opposition to the
president.
They are mastering the house Dem
ocrats fo- the defeat of these bills
should they get through the senate.
Mr. Kitchin said:
"Whateyer of glory there comes out
of this war for the United States will
belong to President Wilson, who has
led in the fight for democracy. What
ever there may come in the way oil
criticism must fall on him.
THE responsibility is his. We have
given him the power to act for the
country. He must be left free to act
to decide, to make his appointments
for the work he wants done.
III his appointees fail, he can "a
move them. He must not be hampc-ed
by legislation or lack OF legislation
I am opposed to the so-called Cham
! berlain military bills for war cab
met and q munitions director"