The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-23
Chamberlain Will Go Limit in
Fight for War Cabinet.
Is Primed With Data To Prove
Misconduct of War.
SAYS PRESIDENT Is MISLED
Ready To Show Up Bakers
Rosy War Statement.
Plea for Harmony VIII Defeat
Measure Is Prediction.
BY c. L. MARTIN.


lash that without harmony the war
will be lost" Democratic leaders are
whipping into line party Legislators
wavering on the Chamberlain war
cabinet" bill.
Today it appeared likely that the
storm which has broken between the
White House and congress on the
measure may be tempered with COM
promise. The presence of Theodore
Roosevelt on the battle ground has
done much to consolidate the Demo
wishes on the pending legislation
There was even talk of get to-
gether' meeting shortly between the
president and Chamberlain.
The telling argument advanced by
the Democrats is that a bill. re-
pugnant this one is to the admin
istration, would. if passed. hamper
war efforts even tho an efficient meas
uro itself
Meantime. however. Chamberlain
is prepared for a real fight.
Has Popular Support.
Backed by letters of soldiers moth
ers and fathers anent camp conditions;
armed with data on what was regard
ed misleading senate testimony OF
Secretary of War Baker, Chamber
lain proposes to go ahead with his
war cabinet bin and his compulsory
training law. Popular support of
these measures grew. despite the ad-
ministration's very strenuous efforts to
kill them, particularly the war cGbi-
net bill.
The fight will develop in earnest to-
morrow over reference of the war
abinet bill to committee. Senator
| Swanson, for the administration, Will
try to have it sent back to both the
military and naval committees Were
| it sent back to the military committee
| alone, action on it would be favorable
| With the double reference, it would
be caught in the jam, hence IL Swan
son wins, the bill may die
SWanson's move to refer it will be
the signal for Chamberlain to go over
| the top. He has his bayonets ready
| ard he proposes to submit data tend
| ing to prove that the president has
| been misle I'd into thinking war condi-
tions are better than they really are.
Baker Misstated Facts.
| He also will submit evidence in an
| effort TO prove that Secretary Baker
| incorrectly testified before the mill
| tary committee to camp clothing
| I:-,ortages. The committee probe testi-
mony will be on every senator's desk
| as supporting evidence of Chamber
| lain's charges and as reasons Tor sup
port of his bill
Chamberlain plans to submit proof
that the war department. as at pres
| ent organized, has failed to meet the
| situation He and his supporters as
| sert this is the sole reason they are
| advocating change that will CO.
ordinate and centralize authority and
| provide legal authority to get things
done in the place of volunteer advice
| and suggestion.
| The administration forces will lay
| emphasis on harmony and on the fact
| that the war cabinet proposed,
, would have direction of naval policies.
| They will argue that the navy proved
| itself critic proof and hence should
| not be meddled with. In this they VIII
| be supported by some Republican
| senators.
This point is likely to cause the de-
feat of the war binet measures in
| the senate where it will take prac-
ticaIly all the Republicans. plus five
| or six Democrats to pass it
Democrats who Support It,
Democrats who are for the measure
| include Chamberlain. Hitchcock. Nc
Kellar. Hardwick, Gore and Reed
Senator King, Utah, looked on as like
| ly to support it. is non-committaL
> Senator Hiram Johnson. California,
is one of the few senators who think
the war cabinet bill stands chance
/ of passs ge. He will vote for it. Sem
ator Borah also strong advocate OF
/ it, believes il would be rendered nom
| effective by administration opposition
even were it passed over the presi-
| dents veto.
| That the president would veto IL IL
it passes congress is considered GER
| tain and even its most optimistic
t friends agree that it could not be
passed over the veto.
Roosevelt Exerts Influence.
Chamberlain is preparing to bring
| in his,universal military training bill.
which he discussed yesterday with
| Colonel Roosevelt.
Republicans and Democrats in both
houses will caucus today to consider
their action on the Chamberlain bills
Colonel Roosevelt has thrown the
full weight of his influence into the
fight comforting until late last night
with Republican leaders in both
branches
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