The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-25
Support All Officials So
Long as They Perform
Duties Well, He Says.
URGES GREATER SPEED
Colonel Outlines His Position
lin Address at Press Club
in Washington.

W JAN. sS.-SOt. lne0s
dore Roosevelt Joined Senator Chamber.
lain to-day in demanding the truth
should be told. Scarcely had the thun-
dcrous tones Of the Oregon Senator died
away at the Capitol before Col Roosc.
welt. speaking at the National Press
Club. defined the duty Of all patriotic
Americans to be to support any official,
from the highest to the lowest. so long
as he performed his duties we'll in speed
Ing up war preparations; but ITO oppose
and depose every official who, in any
way. fails to discharge fully and faith
fully his entire duty to the nation
Not once during his talk did the
Colonel mention the Secretary Of War
by name. but It was clear to his hearers
whom he had In mind when. with true
Roosevcltlan emphasis, he shot these
words out and noted their effect: II
have supported Senator Chamberlain
and I will support him. 1t is Senator
Chamberlain and his associates on the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs
who have made the Investigations into
the administration Of the War Depart
mentor I should say. the maladmin,s-
tration. There has been no partisan
ship in the committee. 1t has acted with
he single minded purpose OF aiding in
the war;
Text OF ROosevelt's speech.
Mr.. Roosevelt spoke as follows:
Your chairman. in introducing me
has spoken Of my thoroughgoing Amer
icanisfn. At this time no man. Is a good
American unless he Ia all American
There is no such thing now as an Amer
lean with some alloy In him. Either he
Is straight United States or he Is no;
United States at all. II he Is not anti.
German '.e cannot be ro-American. II
he Is not In favor Of putting this war
through TO the hpeace OF complete vic.
tory he is not sRloyal American.
The two men whom. at the momept,
We should hold In especial suspicion are
the men who, however loud their prot
estations OF devotion to this country,
nevertheless hint or directly or indi-
recfly advocate. an inconclus!ve peace,
or who. in any way, object to the quick
efficiency In putting the war through
The man who endeavors to make you
not formidable to Germany Is endeavor-
ing to make the United States false 10
itself and, at the same time. to make i;
incur the contemptuous hostility OF Ger
many. Do not forget the sures, way to
win the respect of foe as well as OF
friend is to show this country really
fights when 1t gets into nght.
"Our rule. should be the same for ths
nation as for the individual. DO no
get into a night II you possibly car
avoid 1t. II you get in. see 1t through
Don't hit II II is honO1abiy possible
to avoid hitting. but never hit soft. Nc
man IL grateful to you IL you hit hin
Just n lialis On the contrary, his
. anger at your hitting him IL merely
increased by his contempt for your moi
hurting him. Don't hit Mt all If yor
can help II 4: don't hit a man IL you car
honorabiy avoid it; but II you do hit
him, put him 10 sleep.
Patriotic Through and Through.
mo man can be an American II hi
is not patriotic through and through
and at this time a mans patriotism
should be absolute and in all Of ou'
/ public acts 1t should mean an uttel
disregard Of partisan politics. No pub
| lie servant and no private man in hi
| public relation, in his public actions
| Hd8 huy UuBlucSS ~ tutb tIule " COH
| slider partisan politics In any way.
| Patriotism must exclude all questions
| Of partisanGhip. II is our duty to sup
port every official from the highest T.
| the lowest. just SO long as that officia
| does well. and to the extent that he doei
we'll in making more efficient this Gov
ernment and In speeding UP the worl
of the war: and II Is no less our duty
or. perhaps ! should change that and sa!
II Ia only less our duty 10 expose ineffi
cheney. wherever it Is found. to expos
| II In order to speed UP the war and maxi
the war more effective; and. therefore
to oppose every official, no matter wher'
he IL. who. by deeds Of omission or com
mission. in any way falls short in hi
duty to speed up the war and to maxi
the strength Of the United States a
quickly as possible and as efficiently a
possible felt in the great conflict.
~ come here at a time when questions
! have been raised about the investigation
carried on by certain committees Of Con
gress. I shall give my own views as 4
the duty of Congress to investigate no
in my own words. but In the words o
another. quote ~ follows:
| "Unless Congress have and use ever!
means Of acQuainting Itself with tn
acts and disposition Of the administra
| tive 68ont8 OI utlc ooNothheus ubO Souii
try must be helpless to learn how It 4
being served, and unless Congress botl
scrutinisc these things and sift them b,
every form Of discussion tho countr,
must remain In embarrassing and Grip
pIing ignorance OF every force which
is most important that It should under
stand and direct. Tho informing func
ton of Congress should be preferre
even to Ns legislative, functions"
II want you to especially remembe
that the informing function Of Congress
should he specially preferred. even to It
legislative function Tn sargument
not only that tho discussed and interro
gated Administration In the only pur
and efficient administration. but mor
than that. that tn only we'll ssif-gov
erninG people In that people which dis
cuaAes and interrogates its administra
ton.
cites Prof. Woodrow Wilson.
This quotation. which ] lravo give
you. admirably sets forth the duty Q
Congress Ut all times. and especially q
such q time as this. It II from q wor
on Congressional government by III
then Professor Woodrow Wilson
"It 10 the principle upon which I sha
| Ce~t'a~sS on Aeeo~S Poss.