The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-23
VIII Deal With Obstructionists
In Andrew Jackson Style,
Cabinet Member Asserts
LEADERS CERTAIN
OPPOSITION BILL
WILL BE BEATEN
Senators Martin and Swanson
Confident Me sure Offered
By Senator chamberlain Tor
War Council 10 Doomed

Washington. Jan. 2?.--Tresident Will
son's statement was described tonight
in administration quarters az a notice
10 all that the executive will brook no
attempt to tic his hands in tac con
uuct of the war.
Following today's meeting. cabinet
members declared that the president
lad won his nrst skirmish with his
= critics. Ii was predicted that the war
cabinet and munitions ministry bills
would never pass.
The president will deal with OBJ
structionists as Andrew Jackson dealt
with the United states banks. was
the way one ca binet member described
the presidents attitude. There also
was recalled the statement of Presi-
"ent Wilson when the Joint congress
!, Ftonal war committee was under con-
l Fideration last summer, that the most
esrious burden Abraham Lincoln had
to bear Was senatorial interference
with his plans
a shak@gp Of sorts is expected But
t}s president VIII stand by the men in
Na9m he. already has rep0sed conn
ctHce The change Viii he in his re-
CaeSt fTr extension OF their powers
What resident May Require.
35lF president II is believed, will Rsk
fsr obs awpudcatton OF the pow
&0"r g. r-1t-ot over food Commodt-
To- aro nr.ee~ which viii enforce
| 1924 80 tr conservation plans hith-
~fB,4 chE.r,.d ua 20 purely voluntary
l.4stS. 9Hsse PROV i@51ns are under
/ stood 70 be 20 b"drA IN the new feed
l''{5 sffesa> In the hands Of the house
| mnittee on agriculture.
Following I've eabiu~t meeting today
II mE@ learned there had been q g0n-
| trai feeIiBg aFuuus the presidents ad =
vtsers that he Esd done the wise thing
ia attacking the statements made by
5 seator Chamberlain. There was ey-
IT. et Z. Very sincere regret that
+ astev Chamberlain should have been
So man against whom the president
VI W. forced to deliver hls TRADE. But
The effect Of the presidents statement.
coupled with the conferences he has
le!d with senate leaders during the
last thirty-Stx hours. have convinced
the White House that congress will
sand by the president.
No speed in Novelties.
President Wilson is reported to have
convinced many senators ALREADY that
The war cannot be speeded up by the
creation Of new boards and agencies.
There is no disposition at the
white House TO admit that large mis-
takes have occurred. The small ones
u hich the president admitted his
tted 10 lack OF power rather than 10
SIS abrSn. The president will accord
ia.}v aEn that his hands he strength
rned.
IN his statement Of Yesterday the
president alluded to few statutory
obstacles OF rigid departmental or
.sniration." which stood In the way
az effective work and which he hoped
songress would remove. Secretary
baker said today that this did not
refer 10 any legislation which the
president had already asked of con-
agress.
II is understood that the enlarge
nent OF the army general staff pow
ers IL one OF the things which the
president desires. At present the
law does not permit the general stafi
10 engage In actual administrative
work II is hy statute only advisory
to the secretary OF war. 1t Is no Sc
cret, however that Secretary Baker
has leaned heavily on the genera
staff.
Act as Clearing House.
Were the law changed to permit
This body TO do actual administrative
work II could act rs the ciearins
house in which ALI OF the activities o.
The war department bureaus could be
effectively co~ordinated without tbs
creation of any new agencies and
presumably In the most expert man
ner
The arguments which will be ad
yarced for the r,ore drastic food con
troll measure are these:
That more effective use of the foot
s.,nnlv must be made; that we mus
wconomsze lust as closely as our al
Nsr have to in order that no bad ex
ample may he set their peoples; and
that prices in this country must b
reduced.
Elasticity and interchange of fund
n one measure OF relief desired b,
Gecrctary of War Baker. The con
gresssonal limitation to 10 per cen
az APPROXIMATIONS which NAV be trans
ferred from one department 10 an
other initiates against efficiency.
Senator Chamberlain still hopes q
kake his war cabinet BILL "over tn
Top" but whether he will be success
fui In jamning hts bin past the Demo
cratic phalanx is doubtful.
Today the Democrats have fifty-on
xsAators the Republicans forty-two
Republicans are expected to vote al
most solidiy for the bill. Administers
kfon Democrats said today that Sena
TOR Chamberlain could summon onl,
khree other Democrats to his stand
hvd-Hitchcock. Mcclellan and Reed
Senator Martin. the Democrati
eader, and Senators Swanson. Hok
smith, Robinson. williams, Hollins
Myers. Simmons. Fletcher, Pomeren
md Beckham. who went to the Whit
5ouse last night ere all said to b.
confident today that the bill would b
lefcated. Senator Swanson. who on
brses the bill because he does not w'sl
" see the navy purchasing system
Risturhed. said the measure wa
bAnorn ed.s