New-York tribune., 1918-01-22

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ton has been carried out without one
thought OF parti sanship or party lines,
80 far as | could see in the sub-com-
mittee charged with the investigation
and headed by the colleague of the
Senator from Missouri. Mr.. Reed. In
that subcommittee. as 1T has been
divisions Of opinion, but they have not
run along the party boundary.
Praises War Inquiry
"As to the investigation being car
ricd on by the Committee on VI Mlitary
Affairs, in my humble opinion no
greater service has ever been rendered
to the country by any committee OF
Congress than that committee has
rendered in the last six weeks. Is this
Congress to stand by in silence while
blunders and delays and needless
losses SO pouring past, and to be ac-
cused of treason il it tries to make
conditions better?
"The Senator has referred to the
Spanish War. which lasted three
months. We were unprepared then,
as we were unprepared last April and
mistakes were made then, even in that
short time. But it will be remembered
that without Congressional nvestiga-
ton the President changed his Secre-
tary Of War.
Investigations being of assist 10
the enemy in what they reveal. Ger
tainly inS the Committee on Military
Affairs they reveal to the people Of
the United States many things which
cry for remedy. They reveal very lit
tie, in my opinion, that the enemy does
not know. But when you speak Of the
effect Of these Investigations, what do
you think was the effect on our allies
and our enemies alike when this gov
ernment, not yet fully immersed in
war, deliberately closed down for five
days all the industries of the country.
What impression do you think viii be
given by that act? What will be The
impress on upon the German mind
when they read Of that order of the
food administration?
"Rooscvclts Life Open Book
"Thc Senator devoted good deal of
attention to Colonel Roosevelt do
not think it is necessary for me to
enter upon any defence of Colonel
Roosevelt He has been President of
the United States. IIii life is an open
book. Whatever mistakes may be
charged against him, there is one thing
that is certainly true He never has
had any secrets from the American peo-
pie. They are capable of judging him,
and they will judge him. He offered
himself for service in the way. He was
anxious to so into the army in any
capacity, and he was refused.
"The Senator has attacked Colonel
Roosevelt for critcising the President.
He supported the President az least in
trying to have the merchant ships
He IS supporting the war in every way
he can. His four sons are all in the
war. Three are on the Flanders from.
at this moment. A disloyal man does
not make such sacrifices az that
"The Senator says that Colonel
Roosevelt has been guilty o. treason
because he has written certain articles
which the Senator has read here Is it
treason to say that our lack OF prepara
ton las cost thousands and thousands
OF lives of cur Allies, hundreds Of lives
ions OF money? That is the hard. naked
truth. is it treason TO say that? Is it
treason to point to those camps? Then
General Gorgas, tho surgeon general of
the army, ought to be court martialled,
Tor he was the first to cali attention to
the sanitary condition Of those hapless
camps.
Purpose Is-To Win"
at may be difficult for the pSenator
from Missouri to understand. but it is
quite true that there are men all over
TINS Gountry-and Colonel Roosevelt is
one ol thcni~-whoSe one dominant idea
IS to WIN this war. who are ready to
make every sacrifice to do it. who are
making every sacrifice in their power
to 90 it, who forget their party in their
effort 70 reach the great victory, who
forget everything but their great mas
terhg purpose; but there is one thing
those men viii not do: They Will not
SIT silent and accept mistakes and de-
lays which they think may cause us to
lose the war
The Senator says the utterances of
Colonel Roosevelt are reasonable, and
he brings up"-
Senator Stone Interrupted to remark
he did not say MIR. Roosevelt's words
We're reasonable. Senator Lodge CON
tinued:
II understood the Senator to saw
that in substance. He said men had
ocon arrested and prosecuted for less,
and he read Inc case of a man who
made a remark in the cars, believe.
Tor which certainly he ought not 10
''s'' DS~!i pltStIutcu, ana Nel ne Is
being prosecuted by the officials of
this m;nistration. If they think
olonel Roosevelt deserves prosecution
as much as that man. why do they not
prosecute him? He is visible; he can
pc found. He is also audible, and
this is what makes his crime-he is
also readable.
"The Country and the Cause"
"Ah. the Senator undertakes to put
criticism ard disloyalty on the same
basis. We all owe to the President Of
the United States. who is charged with
these terrible possibilities. all the
support we can give him, and we have
given 1T ever since April . But our
flghest allegiance is not to The prasi-
dent. OnH highest allegiance is to
greater things thaN Presidents or gov
ernments. Our highest allegiance is to
thc country and to the cause; and if
we see things going wrong we shall
call the attention Of the country to
them II we can. We shall vote tho
president all powers. ell money, as we
have in the past; but if the honey is
wasted and tho Wa DELAYED. # tho
powers are ineffective. we should be
traitors indeed if We sat silent and al
lowed the country TO drift to disaster
necause we wore afraid that somebody
hI'ed with the exuherant patriotism
c' recently acquired appointed orIco
would call us treasonablc."