Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-02

pressive three-hour speech in the
4 Senate today Senator George E.
Chamberlain Of Oregon defended him
self against the accusation Of Presi-
dent Wilson that he had "distorted
the truth" in saying in his New YORK
speech last Saturday that the mill
tary establishment of the United
States had "fallen down."
He spoke to an audience that till-
ed every available space on the floor
ana in the gallery. 1t was apparent
that the speech was regarded as marx
ing II crucial point in Americas par
licipation in the great war.
With no attempt to escape the con
sequence of his criticism Of the Ad-
< ministration the Oiegon Senator
stood by his utterance and repeated
}it. He wanted it understood, he sad
1{that he was not attacking the Admm
L listrat!on, and that he was loyal, as
&Aan American, to the President.
What he had meant to convey
&Yhrr1igh HIS New York speech, II"
4 Senator insisted was that 1t was the
4. military establishment alone that had
u "ceased functionfng," and he went on
u to evidence given before the Senate
q Military Affairs Committee to prove
Il this point.
Senator Chamberlain asserted that
Il President Wilson did not know that
the War Department had 'fallen
Z down" in its part Of the war program
&jhe President lacked accurate infor-
NATION from his subordinates.
"The President did not know the
truth but I did" declared Senator
u Chamberlain, his voice echoing
4 throught the crowded Senate Cham
Der.
4 AS murmur spread through tho
- galleries Senator chamberlain paus-'
ed n moment and exclaimed:
'The President naturally obtained
his facts from tho Secretary Of War
and the Secretary Of War gave them
= to him as he received them from
subordinates. with no intention to de
81 ceive But II subordinates gave the
" reformation they lied"
II Senator Chamberlain was impelled
to speak, he explained. because his
integrity had been assailed, mot by
an ordinary citizen but by the distin
guished President Of the United Stat
I as" Hc spoke in no spirit Of rancor
against the President, he said. for
! he had nothing but the kindliest
Feeling toward him"
T"But my integrity Is challenged"
lie cried. "No man can keep me from
elling the truth. I have no fear or
4 3od man, or the devil
l[ Advancing into the aisle, Senator
q: 1'"'''''''"''' :" ''"''
"My only fear Is that perhaps what
may say might have an effect upon
he country, but 1t is we'll that the
buntry know the truth. Great Bril-
i ain has found such conditions exist
ng and has corrected them; France,
y tally and Germany have done 1t. And
america ought to do it,"
In the array of evidence put before
II he Senate to prove his contention
fat the military establishment had
9fallen down." Senator Chamberlain
eferred to the disclosures Of delay In
rmy ordnance and equipment; OF
lness in camps, due, he alleged to
80 ,ilure to create an adequate system,
md of failure in general to use the
asst machinery Of the War Depart
ent to put the country on a war
boting.
All Of these disclosures. Senator
chamberlain, ma intained. ibore ott
s. criticism that the military estab-
shment had failed to function ade-
lately. He argued that the Admin
I 2tration ought not resent any ef-
rt that would advance the country's
ilitary activity In time Of war.
IGHT ON THE BILL
COMES MONDAY.
Senator chamberlain began his
eech at 12 o'clock when he arose
n question Of personal privilege.
took this method, instead Of speak
g upon motion to refer his War
binet bill then on the Senate Calen
r to the Mi itary Affairs Committee
word had got around that an Of.
: It was under way by Democratic
Rders to block his reply to the
esident.
It had been expected that o spirited
gate would follow Senator Cham.
A Rains speech, but this program