The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-25
WILSON FIGHTS
PROPOSED BILL
Strongly Denounces Senate Plan
for Formation of War
Cabinet.
STATEMENT IS ISSUED
Directs Reply at Senator Chamber
lain in Which He Says Reor-
ganization Now Un-
necessary.

Washington, Jan. ga statement
issued by President Wilson has
swept away all doubts as to his views
of proposals in congress for reorgani-
cation of the governments war-mak-
ink machinery. The President said the
war department had accomplished
task of unparalleled magnitude and
difficulty with extraordinary prompt
ness and efficiency. He denounced
the congressional war investigations
and declared reorganization by leg
islation was proposed after effective
measures of reorganization had been
perfected
On the statement most observers
at the capitol saw the collapse of
what promised to be historic strug-
sic. Senator Chamberlain, whose
committee has framed bills to create
a war council all powerful under the
president and to provide one-man con-
troll of munitions and supplies, declared
he would continue his fight in spite
of presidential opposition. 1t was
rather generally conceded, however,
that the measures would have but lit
tie chance
Senator Chamberlain made state
ment in reply to tle president, say
ing he spoke xtemporaneously in
New York and that his criticisms
were directed at the war department
only and not at other branches of the
government.
Presidents Statement.
when the Presidents attention
was called to the speech made by
Senator Chamberlain at luncheon in
New York on Saturday he immediate
ly inquired of Senator Chamberlain
whether he had been correctly re-
ported and upon ascertaining from
the senator that he had been, the
President felt it his duty to make the
following statement.
"'Senator Chamberlain statement
as to the present inaction and inef-
fectiveness of the government is an
astonishing and absolutely unjustifi-
able distortion of the truth. AS a mat
ter of fact the War department has
performed task of unparalleled mag
nary promptness and efficiency.
There have been delays and dis
appointments and partial miscar-
riages Of plans, all of which have
been drawn into the foreground and
exaggerated by the investigations
which have been in progress since the
Congress assembled = Investigations
which drew, indispensable officials of
the departments away from their
work and officers from their COM
mands and contributed greatly to the
delay and confusion which had inev-
itably arisen. But in comparison
with what had been accomplished,
these things, much as they were to
be regretted, were insignificant and
no mistake has been made which was
repeated
Nothing Helpful Developed"
Nothing helpful or likely to
speed or facilitate the war tasks of
the government has come out of such
criticism and investigation. 1 under
stand that reorganizations by legisla-
ton are to be proposed have not
been consulted about them and have
learned of them only at second hand
but their proposal came after eff
fective measures of reorganization had
been thoughtfully and maturely per-
fected and inasmuch as these meas
ures have been the result of expert
ence, they are much more likely than
any other to be effective, if the Con-
gress will but remove the few statu-
tory obstacles of rigid department or
ganizatiOn which stands in tieir way.
"'The legislative proposals l have
heard of would involve long addi-
tional delays and turn our experience
into mere lost motion. My association
and constant confidence in the secre-
tary of war have taught me to re-
gard him as one of the ablest public
officials l have ever known. The
country will soon learn whether he or
his critics understand the business in
hand.
"'To add as Senator Chamberlain
did, that there is inefficiency in every
department and bureau of the gov
| eminent is to show such ignorance Of
actual conditions as to make it i'm
possible to attach any importance to
his statement. l am bound to infer
that that statement sprang out of
opposition to the Administrations
whole policy rather than out Of any
serious intention to reform its prac.
| ice"