The Washington herald., 1918-01-20
WILSON AVERSE
TO PROPOSED
WAR CABINET
Executive Said to Oppose
Senate Bill Creating
New Board. .

Creation of a war cabinet was put
squarely up to President Wilson
yesterday.
Senator Hitchcock. Of Nebraska.
took the Senate Military Commit
tees bill proposing the war cabinet
to Secretary of War Baker. Later
the President went to the War De-
partment whore he and Mr.. Baker
were closeted in conference, -
It Is said that the President will
oppose the bill as well as the
measure instituting a Director of
Munitions.
President Against 1t.
The Presidents opposition to the
creation Of the war council and the
his aversion to "swopping horses
in the middle OF q stream" accord
ing to sources close to the White
House.
The time has now arrived for ac-
tion, according to the White House
view. And action cannot be speeded
by the interposition Of another ex-
ecutive agency.
INC 0endI6 SOmmlT-
tee will insist upon the bill and
the elimination of the secretaries.
If the administration relaxes and
seems at all friendly to the plan,
the bill will be pushed at once.
Singing criticisms are being made
in both House OF Congress Of di-
latory tactics in preparedness and
an utter lack of coordination in
governmental agencies. The war
cabinet is being urged as the pana-
cea for all these evils.
The cabinet will be composed of
three men OF broad vision, who
have demonstrated their ability and
their grasp of public affairs. It is
particularly desired that they shall
not be all of the same mental
training. The same salary as an
ordinary cabinet minister-$12,O 900
would be paid each of the three.
Might Appoint Baker.
1t is understood that Mr.. Baker,
while not as friendly to the meas
ure as he was said TO have been upon
former occasion. has shown a will
hngness to compromise. and has
! agreed that some further co-ordina-
N-SAA ANSCSSdi IL Is also un-
derstood, however, that he is still
unfiinchingly against a Director of
Munitions. This official would re-
move the purchasing power from Mr.
Bakers department.
Some members OF the Senate COM
mittee do not believe that President
wilson would base opposition to the
war cabinet upon the ground that
! Mr. RnLar
eliminated from the organization. The
point was made today that he would
nominate these men as members of
the special cabinet II they resigned
their present posts. 1t is certain.
however. that IL President Wilson sent
Mr.. Bakers nomination to Congress,
terrific and determined battle would
ensue in the Senate.
lnststence was made inside the Sem
ate committee upon the designation
cabinet" in preference to council. "
A cabinet was argued to be ad-
ninistr1tive, while a tsouncir, would
be purely advisory. The "caginet"
| is to be a super-Cabinet acting di-
rectly with the President,
1t would sit continuously determin-
ing the great war questions and plan
ming for the future.
Even IL the bill is passed, the Sem
ate Military Committee will not cease
its probe of the War Department,
II has been contended that there would
be no further need for the investiga-
ton, because the war cabinet would
prevent repetition of the delays and
acts OF omission. But the Senate
committee feels that more inquiry is
necessary in order to guard against
many evils that must never again
occur.