Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-25
Wilson Faction Will Not
Make Fight on Reference
of Chamberlain Bill For
War Cabinet to Military
Committee.
CHAMBERLAIN TOOPEN
EPOCH MAKING DEBATE

| eNCeS tOO0y between senate 8OmlN1S
tration leaders handling President
Wilson's night against the militar,
committees bills to create a war cab
met and munitions director. practic
ally decided that reference of the wal
cabinet measure to the military com
mittee will not be opposed. Thus the
initial clash has been avoided.
This plan was decided upon, admin
istration Spokesman said, not in fea1
that they lacked votes for test OF
strength but rather to avoid broaden
ing the schism with the white house
and also to follow usual procedure Of
legislation.
CHAMBERLAIN TO START FIGHT
Vigorous debate, however, is ex
pected tomorrow If Chairman Cham
berlain carries out his intention to re
ply to the president.
Senator Chamberlain plans to open
the debate Immediately when the sen
ate reconvenes tomorrow by speaking
on question OF personal privilege in
reply to the president
After allowing the war cabinet bill
to 90 to the military committee, ad-
ministration leaders plan to have it
referred also to the naval committee.
The munitions director bill, pre-
viously reported, also is to be sent to
the naval committee.
PLAN BROAD DISCUSSION.
In tomorrow's debate Senator Cham.
berlain's supporters plan to bring up a
broad discussion of army conditions
and the war departments reorganiza-
ton.
Colonel Roosevelt received calls
from congressional friends today at
the home Of his son-in-law, Repre-
sentative Longworth of Ohio, where
he is making a four-day visit, but
otherwise spent the day quietly. Mr..
Roosevelt did not 60 to the capitol.
VETO IS THREATENED.
Nothing short OF q great demonstra-
ton Of popular opinion condemning
the record of the administration and
a reorganization or war
making agencies can save the war
of congressional leaders.
President Wilson declared last night
that If the war cabinet and munitions
bills are passed he would veto
the measures. This announcement,
which was promptly carried to the
capitol, cast shadow Of gloom over
the camp Of Senator Chamberlain and
his democratic and republican sup
porters, who believe the salvation Of
the nation depends upon prompt re-
and the eradication of
the inef1iciency and confusion re-
vealed by the senate committee in
MAY FACE CONGRESS.
The opinion Of many senators is
that it would be useless to pass legis.
lation which the president says in ad.
vance he will veto and that in any
event It would be futile to force a
war cabinet upon the executive with
the knowledge that he is out Of SYM
patty with such reorganization and
would be adverse to working through
such an agency.
The president is fighting mad over
the criticisms Of his conduct Of the
war and no surprise would be occa-
stoned If here we're to appear before
congress on Thursday or some later
branch the riot act.
OoS ASIGo NO1 NAmc0s
It is assumed, in any event. that he
will have some proposals to lay be-
fore congress at an early date in con-
nection with the reorganization of
the war department being carried out
by Secretary Baker. In his statement
night, rebuking Senator
and giving Secretary
Baker a clean bill of health, the presi.
dent said the reorganization proposed
BY the senate committee would not be
IS effective as the Baker plan III the
congress will but remove the few stat
1tory obstacles Of rigid departmental
which stand in the way"
BAKERS ACTION FORCED.
The Baker reorganization was in
lugurated after the senate committee
oegan revealing the inef1iciency Of the
var department, although Mr.. Baker
said at the time that the changes had
,een planned long before. It now ap-
bears that these changes cannot be-
,ome effective for reform in the CON
iuct Of the war unless congress re-
moves obstacles which the president
laS not asked it to remove up to date,
although according to the secretary of
var, the reorganization was planned
/ long while ago.