Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-22

| nafd- pressed tlllerS OF the SOIL are not
open to question either upon the basis
! of sound business policy or of courag-
eous patriotism.
Statement No. g. in further attack
upon the council of defense, says:
THAT all the law provides that
all the public moneys must be paid
out on itemized vouchers, the
state council of defense turned
over $4,000 in lump sum to the
| state college, of which DR.. Grille,
republican, is head?"
This is not only an amazing mis-
| statement of fact, but is more amazing
| because clearly and Enthusiastically it
| places you and your party candidates
| in the position of opposing war
| measure asked for by our national
government, through the war depart
ment and aimed to increase by inten-
| sve training the fighting efficiency
| of our soldiers In fact, this statement,
when closely analysed, stands out as
clear violation of the spirit of the
I espionage act, since its object is to dis
credit and hinder necessary war
preparation
For your information. the war de-
partment of the United States ordered
certain of the state agricultural col
training departments and instructors
in furnishing intensive training to SOL
diers as truck drivers, auto mechan-
les, tank mechanics, wireless operators,
concrete handlers, engineers and
chemists. These men were for imme-
diate use on the fighting fronts and be-
hind the lines in France. our own
agricultural college was among those
chosen for this training, and success
sive detachments of 200 men were or
dered there from Camp Cody to take
training The war department ordered
adequate barracks provided for these
attachments. The institution was ex
pccted to provide them. Our college
had no barracks and no funds for the
purpose. Plans for the required bar
racks were prepared, with complete
specifications. These were submitted
to the proper authorities of the war
department of the United States and by
such authorities approved. Upon these
detailed plans and specifications. as SO
approved by our national government
the state council Of defense issued
$4,000 to the State college, the sum
required to build the barracks accord
ing to the approved specifications. 1t
was regarded as our simple duty to
provide this necessary equipment for
the comfort and proper training of
these attachments of young men, hum
dreds of whom are now in the battle
lines performing services OF inestima
BILE value.
Only one of two conclusions can be !
drawn from your attack upon this APP
preparation. One is that you disap-
prove of aiding in preparing our sol |
diers for expert service on the war
fronts; the other is that you and your
candidates would have denied the I
$4,000 needed to provide these bar
racks at the State college, simply be- !
cause President Grille, the head of the |
institution, is a republican If that is
the democratic attitude toward this |
war it is we'll to have it brought to |
the attention of the people. If it is not, /
am sure you will welcome the oppor-
tunity here afforded to set your cam
didates right before the voters.
The fourth statement in your pub
licity agency's assault upon the work
of the state council of defense reads
"That the administration of
the state council of defense is so
costly that for every dollar it
spends in wark work s cents is
required to pay for salaries and
clerical help?"
Even were the statement true, it |
would still bsr a crodtable showing,
in view of the accomplishments of the
state council of defense, as set forth I
in its published report and as exem
plified in it's various effective activi-
ties. But it is not true. The operating
cost of the state council of defense in
cludes not only clerical hire but vast
quantities of supplies. a heavy neees-
gnf trnX oil &c
printed matter which in some depart
ments Of the work has been heavy.
The fact is, Mr.. Seligman, that you
know and know that all of the mem
bers of the state council of defense
have served without salary: that Hon.
Charles Springer. who is assaulted in
the next of your paragraphs to be
taken up, has devoted his entire time,
his best effort and his recognized abil-
ity in a conspicuously unselfish and
sustained public service, and that he
has never permitted even a dollar of
his personal expenses in residence at
Santa Fe, or travelling expenses, to be
paid out of any other than his own
funds. whatever might be the course
of your publicity agency in normal
times. am amazed that any man of
your agency would seek at this time
to Islander the unselfish public serv-
ice and clean patriotism of result
citizen who has abandoned
private interests wholly and without
to give his best to his
And this leads to your paragraph
No 5, which is as follows;
"That Charles Springer, Re
publican boss and chairman of
the executive committee OF the
State Council of Defense has re-
fused to make public an itemized
report Of his expenditures, and
that the State Council Of Defense
has refused to give out a list of
its employees"
7 ask you to answer, or cause your
committee or agency to
answer these specific questions.
What has the fact that Charles
Springer is Republican leader to do
With the service he has performed for
his state as chairman of the exeeu-
i've committee of the State Council
If Defense?
Is it because he is a Republican
eader that your publicity committee
has assailed him and sought to SLAM
Ter the character and effectiveness
" his patriotism?
What itemized report of Lis ex-
,enditures could he make. when Mr..
springer has paid ALL his personal
expenses incident to his duties as
of the executive committee
f the State Council of Defense?
What expenditures has Mr.. SPRING
r caused to be made as chairman of
he executive committee of the Coun-
II of Defense, which are not matters
t public record, available in the au-