The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-15
WILSON RESENTS
PROPOSED WAR
INQUIRY PROBE
PRESIDENT LETS SENATE
KNOW HE IS IN AUTHOR
ITY IN MATTER.
WRITES PEPPERY LETTER
Calls on All Senators Who Support
the Administrator to Fight the
Proposed Measure, Which Is
Fathered by Chamberlain.

Washington, May l5.-ln letter
today to Senator Martin OF Virginia,
democratic leader in the senate,
President Wilson declared he would
regard passage of the Chamberlain
resolution, calling for an investiga-
ton OF aircrai, and other war &C
tiyities. as direct vote of want OF
confidence in the administration
and an attempt by congress TO take
over conduct o. the war.
The president informed Senator
Martin that he had no objection to
the most searching inquiry into the
aircraft situation, but that he deem
ed inadvisable at this time any in
vestigation of the conduct Cf the
war. AT the session of congress his
opposition to such action put an
end to such proposals tina: 1t be
made.
1t is believed the presidents op-
position is due to the form in which
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the military committee, introduced
the resolution. The restitution
authorized and directed the COM
mittee ito inquire into and report
to the senate the progress OF arr
craft production in the United
States or into any other matters re-
lating TO the conduct OF the war, by
or through the war department.
Members OF the senate military
committee have agreed to -c-drait
the resolution to authorize tie COM
mittee to inquire merely into army
activities and not into genera. con-
duct of the war or military strategy.
The expenditures committee met
today TO re-draft the resolution.
Senator Chamberlain and others OF
the military committee have de-
clared there was no objection TO lin
iting the scope of the resolution to
army operations. and have disclaim-
ed any intention of planning any
general inquiry into the conduct OF
the war;"
Text OF Presidents Letter.
81 deem it my duty to say the
presidents letter states, that l
should regard the passage of this
resolution as a direct vote OF want
of confidence in the administration.
The purpose which it undoubtedly
expresses has been expressed again
and against in various forms during
the present session, and has always
seemed TO originate in a. rooted dis
trust of those who are at present in
OF the executive functions of
the government.
Those executive functions are
very clearly understood. They have
been defined both by the constitu
tion and long experience, and no
one can doubt where the response
bility for them lies or what the
methods are by which those who are
responsible can be held to their
duty.
such activities on the part of a
particular committee of the senate
as this resolution would lC- k for
ward to would constitute nothing
less than an attempt TO take over
and conduct of the war. or at the
least SO supeririend and direct and
participate in the executive conduct
of Il as to interfere in the most Sc
rious way with the action of the
most constituted executive.
4 protest most earnestly against
the adoption of any such action, and
shall hope that every senator who
to support the present ad-
in the conduct Of the
war will vote against it.
These are serious times and it is
necessary that the lines
should be clearly drawn Leiween
trends and opponents"