Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-15
Declares Passage Of Measure
Would Mean Lack of Con-
fidence in Administration.
REGARDS IT ATTEMPT TO
ASSUME WARS CONDUCT
Attacaing Chamberlain Resolution,
Asks Lines Be Drawn Between
Friends and Opponents.
FAST MAIL.

In letter today to Senator Martin Of
Virginia, democratic leader in the Sen.
ate, President Wilson declared he would
regard passage Of the Chamberlain reso-
luton calling for an Investigation Of
aircraft and other war activities as q
"direct vote of want of confidence in the
administration" and an attempt by Con
gress to take over conduct of the war.
Functions Clearly Understood"
II deem it my duty today" the Presi-
dents letter said. that / should regard
the passage of this resolution as a di-
rect vote Of want Of confidence in the
administration. The purpose which 1t
undoubtedly expresses has been .ex-
pressed again and again in various
forms during the present session, and
has always seemed to originate In a
rooted distrust Of those who are at
present in charge of the executive
9f the eap1
understood. They have been defined
both by the Constitution and by long
experience, and no one can doubt where
the responsibility for them lies or what
are responsible can be held to their
duty.
such activities on the part of a par
ticular committee of the Senate as this
resolution would look forward to would
constitute nothing less than an attempt
to take over the conduct of the war. or
at least so superintend and direct and
participate in the executive conduct of
lit as to interfere in the most serious
way with the action Of the constituted
executive.
"Lines Should Be Drawn"
II protest most earnestly against the
adoption of any such action. and shall
hope that every senator who intends to
support the present administration in
the conduct Of the war will vote against
it. These are serious times and 1t is
absolutely necessary that the lines
should be clearly drawn between friends
and opponents"
Upon receipt of the Presidents let
ter, Senator Martin called dozen
conference to discuss what disposition
should be made Of the Chamberlain
resolution.
Considerable difference Of opinion
resolution was subject to the view that
1t might be used as authorizing gen.
eral conduct of the war; investiga-
ton, Others; contended it's terms lin
tied the military committee solely to
Army affairs.
Declares Purpose Was Formal.
In consideration OF the Chamberlain
resolution, the expenditures committee
called Senator Chamberlain before 1t
and at spirited session the Oregon
lot n@ hnt
committee, under the resolution. ever
had any intention of holding any gen.
eral inquiry into the conduct Of the
war;" with much show of feeling.
Senator chamberlain told the expend-
it,.res committee that its whole and
only" purpose was formal and in ac-
also to give the committee somewhat
more power" than it had for past in
vestieatfons.
Senator Chamberlain told the expend-
tures committee that he was ready to
take the whole question to the floor Of
the Senate" and make his record"
It developed during the expenditures
committee hearing that the military
committee has been holding past in
duiries by authority of similar reso-
luton adopted early at the present
session of Congress-, after, however. the
committee itself had formally ordered
the war inquiry begun last December.
Senator Chamberlain. protesting that
his being summoned before the ex-
pcnditures committee was an unusual
proceedings" insisted that the resolu-