Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-05

10 been creditably done, the Nebras.
"a senator insisted that centralized
md co-ordinated war operations
through a war cabinet and centralized
purchasing through munitions di-
rector are imperative. He asserted
hat the presidential Secretary Ba-
Ter had tried but failed to attain the
pbject and that the governments sys-
em was obsolete The committees
legislation, he argued, would not en-
. larrass or interfere with the presi-
Tents direction of the war.
CHARGES LAUNDERING.
Sharp criticism of many government
var activities was made by the senat-
pr in illustrating his arguments but
without attacking individuals. blum
lers that almost surpass belief have
occurred in the war department" he
laid, and the ship building situation
ae described as farce and almost a
crime" He declared the transporta-
lion system has broken down" and is
Gigantic wreck" with 100000
ons Of freight piled up at New York
without shipping facilities; that the
nel administrations orders have par
llyzed war and other industry and
hat food distribution also has been
neficient.
In fatty denying Secretary Bakers
statement that the government has a
military committee was thunderstruck
BY the war secretary's optimistic as
Iertons.
BAKER TOO sANGUINE.
" am afraid to go too deeply into
shipping figures he added, "for one
might be charged with giving informa-
don to the enemy All who are in
.ormed as to the present supply of our
shipping were thunderstruck at the
statements of Secretary Baker. His
Rngnine predictions as to our ability
10 ship men to Europe and supply
hem are exaggerations of the widest
sort.
ITO supply million men in France,
mpposing we could get them over
there, it will require 100000 tons of
shipping in constant use. We all
know the total tonnage now available
h nothing like that amount. We all
hear it will not approximate that a
year from now.
NO COORDINATION.
yet the secretary of war is so out
OF touch with the shipping board and
shipping authorities that he makes a
statement that is absolutely prepos
ferrous. have no doubt of his sin.
cerity but this act indicates again the
extent to which one department is
out of touch with another depart
ment"
Turning to Secretary Bakers war
plan Senator Hitchcock said:
Secretary Baker says we have a
plan. am sorry to disagree with
him. II there is one thing more con-
spicuous by it's absence than any other
operation Of the various departments
and bureaus in Washington, it has
been planning for the future. do not
deny that the various departments
have planned as far as they could in
advance but who has prepared the
master plan which will harmonize
these plans. Nobody. Nobody could"
cRIrlclsES PRESIDENT.
Referring to the presidents opposi-
tion to the two committee bills, the
senator said it was on the ground
fhet the president alone has respopsi-
hlity for the conduct of the war, ada
Ing:
s-rhe mere statement presents an
Asserting that congress has a large
measure Of responsibility, Senator
said it would be mon
strous" to hold the president respon-
sible for the 100000 tons of freight
piled up in New York, for the break !
down of transportation, the middle
and tumble of priority shipments, the
shortcomings Of the ordnance depart
ment and quartermaster's department,
sufferings of the unnecessarily sick
soldiers and nine months delay in
construction of the government pow
der factory"
WILSON'S MANY DUTIES.
The senator summarized the enor-
NOUS burdens which rest on the presi-
dent, including his formulating a
foreign policy, designing all the legis-
lation for congress to pass, debating
the industrial and political activities
of the country and looking after ex-
penditures of $250,000,0o0 week.
1.-THE president does not want the
committee to report the cabinet bill,
and" he continued, IF press reports |
be true, he objects even to discus
sion OF this legislation in the senate.
This attitude on the part of the presi-
dent is unfortunate but not altogether
unnatural.
OPPOSES oNE-MAN SYSTEM. !
''1n the first place the president be-
longs to the school Of political philos-
ophers who adhere to the belief that !
all important legislation should orig
mate with and be proposed by the
executive can not subscribe to
this scheme of government although |
It has some obvious advantages in !
that it provides leadership order and
program.
"Since he became president, Mr..
Wilson has enforced his view on con-
gress to a large degree and generally
with good results. In the main,
have been one of those who have fol
lowed his leadership and supported
his policies, and I expect to do so in
the future. Now and then, however,
m exception must be made.
n,~- orIcAN NllEcrINN