The Washington herald., 1918-01-25
81 Speak as an American
Chamberlain Says as
Critic of Wilson.
mot RUBBER STAMP"
ASSERTS OREGONIAN
LET the Sunlight In," Plea
of Westerner Attacked
by President.

i speak as an American! want
to let the sunlight in!" said Senator
George E. Chamberlain. of Oregon.
yesterday in the Senate.
He was making his answer to
the Presidents charge that he had
"unjusti6ably" distorted the truth
in his New York speech.
In never become a rubber
stamp" he declared. Il would
rather sacrifice my political life. |
would rather go home to my people
and say to them, I tried to wake
the nation. but they listened rather
to those higher in authority. and
my voice was as one crying in the
Wilderness
Reads Wilson Letter.
For the most part the Senator con-
fined himself to relating testimony
which has been given before the SEN
ate Military Affairs Committee. OF
which he is chairman. The shortage
in ordnance. the woeful lack of cloth
ing and equipment, the disease in the
training camps were all dwell upon.
II could not touch the bottom IL 1
continued months" said Senator
Chamberlain.
He read a letter from the Presi-
dent in which Mr.. Wilson. said he
opposed the director of munitions bill
Senator Chamberlain offered this
communication as showing that the
President had been consulted about
the legislations. He said he and Sem
ator Hitchcock had been to the
White House.
Is it fair to me to say he has
not been consulted?" asked the Ore
gon Senator.
Immediately Senator James of
Kentucky rose and read a letter
from the President. 1t was written
yesterday. Mr.. Wilson said he had
opposed the Director Of Munitions
bill
II understood yesterday that Sem
ator Chamberlain was to read the
other letter from the President to-
day." said the Kentuckian. Il fear
ed that he might construe that let
ter ss showing that the Chief Exec
utive knew of both bills, at first
hand"
Senator Hitchcock took the War
! Cabinet bill to the Secretary of
War;" interjected Chamberlain.
Yes, but it is not fair to infer
that Mr.. Wilson knew OF the bill
through one of his cabinet officers"
responded Senator James.
Respect for President.
He said Of the President:
II have great respect for him, not
withstanding what he has done. And
would be the first to aid him in win
ming the war for America.
THE charge has been made by the
President that my New York speech
was attributable to an opposition to
the whole policy of the administration.
have tried to do my duty by the ad-
ministration. Generally I will be found
upon its side"
But I'll say this!" he shouted,
Il never supported one single meas
ure because it was any mans meas
ure. I voted when my conscience
told me 1t was right! No man on
Gods green footstool can keep me
from telling the truth. fear not
God. man, nor the devil. when it
comes to telling the truth!
God help me, If I can create ef-
ficiency in the War Department
through my efforts, I am going to
do it If it costs me my political life,
and my physical life"
Letters From Camps.
When Senator Chamberlain read dra-
matte letters from relatives of dead
and dying soldiers in the army camps,
hush came over the throng. He
read slowly the line:
And when we tried to open the door
of the hospital ward. something heavy
was against it."
The galleries held themselves taut.
They seemed to sense what was COM
ing. Chamberlain read on:
I'VE pushed the door ajar a little.
Inside we saw my sons body lying on
the floor. 1t was his head that the
door had struck when We tried to open
it."
A great gasp went up from all over
the big room.
Confesses to Humiliation.
"It is with some feeling of humilia-
| tion," said the Senator, land I may
say with sadness, that 1 rise upon a
question Of personal privilege when
my veracity has been called in ques-
tion-not by an ordinary citizen, not
by one of my colleagues-but by a
very distinguished gentleman who has
the love and admiration of the people
of this country, and who through
their suffrage occupies the highest
place in their gift-and / may say the
highest place of any man on earth.
The statement of the President
challenges me to the proof of my
statement in. New York." said Sem
ator Chamberlain. "I rather think
that 1t Is not who have distorted
the truth, but have sometimes
feared that in the multitude Of his
responsibilities the President has
not been able to ascertain the
truth. II he had relied upon some
who came before our committee, he
does not know the truth. From the
lips Of some of those who have tes-