The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-23
He VIII Make No Comment on
Stone Speech.
CURTIS CALLED ON COLONEL
No Mention Made of Nature of
Conversation.
L. r. Considers Baker IncOm-
petent and Unfit.

Washington, Jan. 23.-If vim and
energy can be injected into the war
situation by the contagious sincerity
and bound1ess energy of person out
side the official ranks, Co;-nel Roose-
welt was doing that thing in Washing
ton today All day a steady stream of
callers, most of them members of con-
gress, discussed the war situation with
the ex-presideut.
T. R. had little to say for publica-
ton He said he was getting in touch
with the situation from his talks with
members of congress. but before he
leaves, probably Thursday night, at
the National Press club, he intends to
tell the public how he thinks the war
can be speeded up. His subject is
scientific, Tell the Truth and Speed
Up the War"
Naturally, after the vitrioIic attack
on him yesterday by Senator Stone,
many thought the colonel would de-
molish the Missouri senator in sting
ing reply today. But Roosevelt evil
IDENTIFY does not think that Stone and
what he said was worthy of comment.
He did not pay any attention to it, but
did pay much attention to the war
situation.
That was all he was interested in,
not any attacks on himself Colonel
Roosevelt thinks Stones pro-German
stand before our entrance into the
choke off criticism of those who would
end the Indebtedness in our warnak-
ing, is sufficient answer to anything
whatever that Stone should say on
would bring forth some attention to
himself he was disappointed
Against Our BIundefs.
Il am here for just one purpose"
Colonel Roosevelt said this afternoon,
when newspaper men jammed two
rooms of the Longworth home here
to see him Il am here to help every
man who sincerely desires to speed up
our work in the war. That has both
an affirmative and a negative side I
am equally against the inefficient man
mhoSe mistakes and blunderS delay the
winning of the war. No man is really
inteIligentIy loyal to the country who
don't take both ends of this PROPOSE
ton
The first man Colonel Roosevelt de-
sired to see was Senator Chamberlain.
He didn't get in touch with him until
cussion with Senator Cham berlain,
Senator Roosevelt refused to discuss
at all the pending war cabinet resolu-
ton, which has brought forth such a
violent opposition from President VIII
son. While Colonel Roosevelt is for
measures that will make the conduct
of the war more efficient and CO.
ordinate, it is known that he believes
that even with the best system that
could be devised by law, much de-
ponds in the long run on the ability
of the men directing the big war &C
tivities.
That Mr.. Roosevelt considers Mr..
Baker incompetent and unfit for the
post of war secretary, is putting il
mildly The colonel declined to dis
cuss Mr.. Baker or any one else today.
But it wasn't because he doesn't intend
to, but only that he wanted to get
more thoroly in touch with the exact
situation in Washington. Senator
Hiram Johnson was one of the colo
nePs first visitors
Senator Curtis There.
There were many other callers, too.
Senator Wadsworth, a member of the
senate military affairs committee, was
in conference for a long time. With
him came Senator Curtis of Kansas
The house and senate members who
visited Colonel Roosevelt left with no
hay apprehension of what he was con-
cerned about. He pressed it upon
them too strongly for that. He was
concerned about just one thing, win
ming the war, and the way to be sure