New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-02-01
SECRETARY BAKER
USES STOCK PLEA
OF THE PAC|F|STS
WAR NOT AT OUR DOORS"
GIVEN AS EXCUSE TO
PROVE THERE WAS TIME
TO EXPERIMENT WITH
ARMS AND ORDNANCE
(Providence Journal)

Secretary Bakers statement on
Thursday, to the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs, while attempt
ing to explain the delay in properly
equipping the army, that "war wasn't
on us, because it was not at our
doors it was 5000 miles away" throws
star-shell illumination on the
thinking processes CT Mr.. Baker. II
tells the whole story OF inefficiency,
delay and negligence that have
characterized his acts and those OF
many Of the officials in the War
Department since the day war was
declared. The Secretary could not
have damned himself more complete
ly had he acknowledged his utter
unfitness for the portfolio he holds,
or assumed entire responsibility for
every bit of incompetency, wasted
time and opportunity lost by his de-
partment. His statement shows an
attitude against a vigorous prosecu'
ton of the war, and proves con-
clusively why, after nine months, the
soldiers in the United States army
are without a proper supply OF
rifles. machine guns. light and heavy
aTtlllcTy anu SFCH SiOAiiHB'
Failure To Whi,ewash
Secretary Bakers attempt TO
wbitewash the War Department and
himself was a failure and his smil-
ing attitude and unruffled exterior,
while answering some OF the more
serious questions Of the committee
prove his utter inability to appreciate
the fact that the United States is
At war. He condemned himself and
proved his unfitness for any official
position, connected with the prose-
cution OF the war, when he intimated
that the United States had plenty
Of time to experiment with arms
and ordnance because the war was
1000 miles away"
Excuse Are Not Valid
Secretary Baker explained all the
DELAY, all the pickering, all the nine
months of wasted time by the War
Department for that reason. But II
is not an excuse that will be ac-
cepted by the people Of the country
who know that a vigorous prosecu-
ton of the war is the only way TO
win. 1t is not an excuse tor the
fact that II army in France, today,
is armed with field guns loaned by
the French, and by heavy ordnance
loaned by the British. 1t is not an
excuse for the fact that the majority
of the men in Dur training camps
are without machine guns and nave
no prospects Of receiving any. tor
eight months or more. Mr.. Bakers
does not excuse nor eX-
plain why the first l55 mn guns for
the United States army and the first
~ shells were not ordered until No
vember, 1917, nor does it explain why
for months 5000 machine guns were
stored in the arsenal at Springfield
and other places while the machine
gun companies in the different can
comments were in great need OF them.
"War Not At Our Doors" ,
Secretary Baker. when he makes
the excuse that war was not at our
uses the plea of every paci-
list in the country. 1t is one Of their
stock phrases. 1t is their staple ar.
against the selling Of every
means at the command OF the Gov
eminent for a vigorous prosecution
II the war. 1t is the argument and ,
he condemnation Of a mar who in {
,tead of being at the head OF the {
Mar Department should be at once \
'emoved from any possibility OF t
bringing US closer to disaster and a
c
The American people, at war with |
Germany. will not tolerate ielibcr-
Ite Misrepresentation Of our military r
;tuation from their Secretary Of t
Mar, A