The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-01-24


Ills continuance in the cabinet posi.
''oh ne holuS has been the object Of
attack, both In the committee and in
inc country generally, and with full
kioWledgc of that fact he apppnrcd
win Il long and detailed. statement of
'hc war departments doings that scrv-
"d as an elaborate defense Of it and Of
himself as its head. Summing up he
departments chief ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
Mt. Baker said Il large army is in the
licld ana in training. enlisted and So
lecled without serious d%iSlOcntiOn Of
me counlrN'S industries; its SubSiS-
l"ncr is above criticism. its clothing
supply Is now substantially complete;
arms of the most modern kind have
bccn provided by manufacture or pur-
chased for the soldiers in France AMI
VIII be available for every man who
can BE- got to France In 1918; Il sub
Slantinl army is already on French
soil and ready for active service. and
lines of communication and snl,ply
ana vast storage and other facilities
are in process of construction there!
great Programs for the manufactures of
additional equipment aud new inSiru-
mrntS of war have been formulated.
The American army now in The field
or In training, Mr.. Baker said. num-
bered nearly II million and Il hair. and
he added: NO arm OF similar size in
the history of the world has ever been
raised. equipped or trained so quickly.
No such provision has pvcr been made
for the comfort. health and general
well-being of an army"
The secretary did not undertake to
deny that weak places in the dcpnrt-
ment's organization had been discov-
cred, but maintained that the rcorgan-
iZation of bureaus and the creation of
the war council had brought strength
and efficiency. eve can o see the
entire situation" he said. '1Ihe initial
rush needs are substantially supplied.
The technical corps have been expand
ed and reorgnniZcd upon industrial and
efficient lines
Despite Mr.. Bakers defense. the
sentiment in congress for Il separate
cabinet department Of munitions seems
to be growing stronger and the RcDub-
lican members set a day To consider
the adoption of a resolution fnv0ring
Snch action.
Problems of Labor and Fuel.
Secretary Of Labor Wilson asserts
there is on amply supply Of labor in
the country. hnt the problem is ono Of
proper adjustment. Therefore the gov
eminent has set in motion the machin-
cry for Tho mobilization and diStrihu-
ton of an army of nbodt 100000
workers for agriculture, shipbuilding
and war contract plants. a network
OF in%tcrrclatcd labor exchanges will be
established to recruit workers and
transfer them from one section to All
other according TO the demands. John
=. Dcnsmorc of Montana was selected
to be national director of this service.
More inSiStcnt and more imm"diatc-
~ painful than the labor problem Is
the matter of fuel. The ~cOal"Shortngp.
blamed by some authorities on the sell
fish greed of the operators. became so
pronounced last week, especially in
the east, that many Industries were
forced to close their doors and many
more went on part time.
In the house of representatives
there was sharp criticism Of the fed
cral fuel administration. and one con
gresham declared that If the govern
ment could not control prices It should
take over the mines. Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield on Thursday announced
the appointment Of Mark l.. Requa of
Oakland, Cal, to take charge OF the
oil industry Of the country, and 1t was
understood the government would take
over the control Of fuel oil as 1t has Of
coal. Distribution Of the oil will come
first and later the question Of price
regulation will be taken up. One most
desirable result of this move will be to
assure the navy an adequate supply
Of oil. which is the fuel Of most of the
recently built vessels.
IL the women OF America win the
right to vote, rs seems probable. the
suffragists will have to thank the mar
whom they have scolded, abused and
pIcketed for q long time. The Susan
B. Anthony amendment was appr0yed
by the house Thursday by only tho
bare two-thirds majority required. and
1T Is fair to assume that 1t would not
have carried If President Wilson had
not given 1t hearty and unexpected in
dorsement. Fifteen Southern Demo-
Gratis who voted against national suf-
frage two years ago voted for It this
time. OF the 274 votes in favor of the
1856 were cast by Repub-
HcOnS The resolution now ZOOS 8
INC senate, whore toe caISG must gain
aavcrai converts to carry It through