Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-15
WILSON OF
PLAYING POLITICS
Senator Weeks, Republican, Charges
President With Blundsrin9 in Efforts
to Retain Control Of All Departments
Preparing For War.

President With Blundsrin9 in Efforts
to Retain Control Of All Departments
Preparing For War.
Washington, Feb. 15.-President Will
son was charged with deliberately in
jecting politics into the controversy
over war efficiency by Senator Weeks,
q republican member Of the military
committee. in a speech today criticiz-
ing the war department and other
branches of the government
Supporting the military committees
war bills as "nonpartisan efforts to aid
and not embarrass President Wilson
Senator Weeks detailed delays and
difficulties Of the governments mill
tary preparations. He declared the
lack Of a. central body to make and
direct all the country's war plans is
responsible for the troubles. He said:
Not question indicating partisan
ship was raised until the president de.
lIberately injected politics into the sit
uation by an attack on the chairman
Of the committee QSenator Chamber
lain) and the committee itself. and
calling to- the White House many demt
ocratic party leaders, not for consulta-
ton, but to insist that the discussion
Of this question on the floor Of the
senate be preveRted II possible.
'Haye we come to the pass when
the action Of the most important COM
mittee In congress at this time Is to
be- forbidden?
Neither do wish to criticize un-
Justly the head Of the war department.
He has had to deal with multitude
Of questions, the disposal Of many Of
which meet my approval.
.'If were to criticize the secretary
personally it would relate to his tenn
peramental relationship TO the war.
Doubtless he himself would admit that
he is himself pacifists by nature. For
example, even now he is opposed to
universal training and can not divorce
himself from the conclusion, based on
his own testimony, that he has been
inclined from conditions Of war on the
basis that we are 5000 miles away
from the 'front.' instead Of fastening
preparations with all the vigor we
would exercise II our own borders were
the battle front.
zone Of the notable features Of the
situation is the virulence used in at
lacking those who favor the, commit
tees plan cor centralization). They
are referred to as plotteHs, mischieyous
meddlers and even as servitors OF the
enemy.
Asserting that it is physically int,
possible" FORT the president to in
dividually CO. ordinate and direct all Of
the governments functions. he added:
';Can 1t be possible the president will
be embarrassed by such Cabinet? It
would seem as II he would be embar-'
rassed to greater extent by a per-
petuation Of the disjointed system now
existing. a system which failed to pro-
duce ships; which has failed to deliver
coal; which has been responsible for
failure to protect our soldiers against
sickness and furnish them with suit
ale clothing.
I'VE are the inventors and leaders
In airplanes and yet we have no air.
planes. We have the greatest steel
works In the world and yet we have
few guns. We lead the>world in auto.
mobile manufacture, and vet we are
just commencing to obtain motor
trucks"
Attic praising efforts OF the war de-
partment toward reorganization. Sen
ator Weeks said Edward r. Stettinius
fine civilian surveyor Of purchases is
IN an N'imbessible position" and that
the administration is Throwing away
an opportunity to make an effective or
SANITATION" bvt rejecting the plan for
a munitions director.