Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-15
New Blood Needed.

Secretary Baker to the members of the
I. ;. Senate Investigating board as
rocky, self satisfied and f1ippant-as
they richly descrved--we should have
been accused Of partisan "nagging."
Ia " hen thick and thin supporter
OF Secretary Baker and the admins
the public may give fair consideration
10 the serious facts We refer to the
New York Post which says:
As our readers are aware The
tNening Post has had a high opinion
81 Secretary Baker as an executive
officer. II has had no sympathy what
ever with the demands for his resiena-
ton which come from newspapers Hike
the Kansas City Star We have not
felt. of course, that he had wholly sue
c"eded IN demonstrating his ability to
cope with the almost impossible task
Let him OF reorganiZinS the antiquated
ana hopeIessly unbusinesslike War De-
partnent while war is on; time has
Vet 10 show ii he can last longer than
Europe But we felt that he brought
rigor and keen understanding,
boundiess industry and enthusiasm, to
his task. and have hoped that ere long
lie fould find himself so completely
master Of his job that he would under
lake the radical and far-reaching re-
organization the situation calls for if
we are To conduct this war with even
moderate efficiency
1t Is with genuine regret. therefore,
mat We have read the reports of his
appearance before the Senate Commit
Zee yesterday. at which, 1t is true, ne
gave proof of such nimble wit as to
make IL plain that the cross examining
Senators did not bring home ANYTHING
directly TO the Secretary. But what is
reSrett;,1le is the general attitude Of
Mr.. Baker. That self-praise goes hu,
NUN ways IS an old adage: 1t was eX-
tremely bad taste for the Secretary to
assume the attitude that wonders have
been achieved, and that we should be
'Nulting over what the War Depart
ment has accomplished. There Is moth
ing NOR" dangerous in a situation like
ms than the old american habit of
hoas'ing: we are too content with orr
selves. as rule, too sure that we are
gong To accomplish miracles where
"thers have failed. Dragging by the
Nar department was certainly never
more out of place than TODAY. when
the public Is perfectly well aware that
there have been a number Of serious
blunders. when American soldiers have
been dying by hundreds in our canton
nents OF pneumonia invited by lack Of
clothing
This Is not the time for q
aplnet ot'lcer in the face Of the record
10 assume an attitude either of self
satisfaction or of defiance There Is
stu too much tn be done. still too mucn
!" he proved. for Mr.. Baker fittinglv to
display amy other quality than that of
humility IN the face of the gigantic
military task that still confronts the
nation.
- nus he speaks of having raised a
great army: but there is no army to-
cay. merely large bodies of uniformed
or half uniformed men under training
Nv men VINO arc in the bulk themselves
or the slightest experience The very
troops that We have sent to France
nave had 50 large a percentage Of re-
cruits among them as to make il nec-
essary t. train them from the very be-
ginning. Now. if Yesterday was not tho
time for Air. Baker to have brought
OUT the dif'iculties Of the situation, to
HaNe dWef upon the magnitude OF the
tasks rather than applying adjectives
10 what has been achieved. it is AT
leas' disappointing that there is no
hInt IN NE press accounts of his hear
ing which may. Of course. do him in
justice of any recognition on hrs mart
OF what the War Department condi-
lions call for in the way Of a radical
reorganization.
The test that is before
nm, Is. we repeat whether he can
max" over his Department while car
wing on the enormous business al
ready In hand. Made over il must no
me Pity of II is that the whole tone of
Mr.. Bakers testimony is so comblscor+
because 80 few plumbers have been
made as To make one question whether
n" even realizes what is staring him
IN the face"
ar. Baker opposes (and the Presi-
dent is with HIND the creation of a de-
partment Of munitions-it would de-
ract from that power and CONSEQUENCE
~ which he boasts, he frankly adj
mits. He opposes universal military
raining. Why? He has not given
easonable reason. but we may assume
hat II would necessitate another de.
rsrtment TO deal with equipment OF
he men called, thus far handled SO
lumsily) while the present depar,-
nent would lie confined to methods
md means Of putting the human ma
srial In order.
Secretary Baker says that his de-
'artment HAS been "reorganized." but
= there anything In such reorganiza-
ion TO inspire the confidence Of the
ountry' Have new men Of expert
Ancc and knowledge OF wars demands
peen added or substituted? Is "reor-
SANITATION" worth the hope when the
same men who are complacent in the
,unders they have made are simply
-h,:t9ed' Has the blood or the ex