The Washington times., 1918-05-03

When the greatest political experts
/ In the world are considering contin-
| gencies and planning for possibilities,
any attempt Of an amateur observer
to sum up must be rude and crude.
Hence, nothing of the kind will be
attempted here. 1t may be observed,
however, that IL some of Secretary
of War Newton D. Bakers enthu-
siastic enemies do not grow enthu-
siastic enough to force him out be-
fore November next-if they can-the
Republican party, which otherwise
may find no place to land, evidently
! hopes to land" on him. This hope
Involves the failure Of the Liberty
motor to decide the results Of the
war at once, by driving a feet Of
several thousand combat planes
across the map Of Europe, from any
desired point to any other. For the
purpose Of a Republican landing
place, it is necessary to "conserve"
/ Secretary Baker. 1t is also neces-
sary that aeroplanes should not de-
velop from our factories across the
map Of Europe before November, and
that the war should not be decided
before November-as all concerned
now seem agreed that it will not, or
should not, or must not, even II 1t
were possible to end It sooner. OF
course, IL in November, Democrats
could be imagined as undertaking to
argue the advantages Of Peace
Without Victory" against both Col
onel Roosevelt and Judge Taft,
everything might be simplified. But
on the theory that the Democratic
party in November Is the War
party" and any hint OF peace from
a campaign orator may lead to his
immediate arrest, 1t seems that SEN
tor Brandegee represented the logic
OF the situation, as he rose spon-
taneously after the chaplain's prayer
before Senator Overman could get
the floor for the regular order"
What Senator Brandegee started
was quite sufficient for its purpose
unless it is stopped by the unex-
pected, which always happens. Sen
ator Brandegee is to high art in
politics what Mr.. Gutson Borglum,
as an adviser of the President, is to
high art in sculpture and high fiy-
ing in aeronautics. And Senator
Brandgee had the help of other art
lists. hardly if at all less eminent,
winth the superior advantage Of
training in Senator Chamberlain's
committee. 1t is impossible to do
Justice to the results here. Secure
a copy of the Congressional Record
today, if never again, and study
every line of the Senate proceedings
after Senator Brandegee had once
more introduced Mr.. GutsOn Borg
gram from Mr.. Borglum, denying
that he (Borglum) had any mon
etary interest" in aeroplane produc-
tion, and, among other things,
adding that "aeroplane production is
still in the clutches of the Ring, and
no Roadway will be made by Mr..
Ryan or any one else until it is
broken" This was followed by
reading into the Record the report
of the investigating committee of
the American Aeronautical Society,
supporting the Chamberlain COM
mittee and going beyond it in con-
demnation of the methods and re-
suits of cost plus" production of
aeroplanes. Other articles were
read suggesting not only incompe-
tence, but treason.
As a Democrat, Senator Hitch
cock, who is one of the ablest and
best informed members of tho Mill
tary Affairs Committee. defended
the Administration - from the
Chamberlain committee's stand
points. A question argued was Of
whether the committee ought to 20
on with the investigation, or
whether the Department of Justice
ought to act. Senator King of Utah
raised the question of shooting
somebody very high up but not
absolutely identifedD to satisfy his
patriotic sense of justice. Senator
PoindeXter discussed certain legal
aspects of this proposal, and SEN
ator Knox, with others. continued
the debate as far as advisable for
the day. -
Senator Thompson oF Kansas then
EnnlFA in, 81