The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-02-04
WILSON PLANS
TO R0UT FOES IN
MUNITI0N FIGHT
Stettinius or Baruch May
Head the War Indus.
tries Board.
POWERS TO BE WIDENED
Reorganization of Body Will
BE Along Lines to End
Criticism.
Special DesoofcA fs The suS,

son has plan in mind for meeting
some Of the criticism that has found ex-
preston in the bill creating a munitions
head to which the President has de-
clared his unaiterable opposition. This
plan Will be disclosed this week. when
a reorganization Of the War Industries
Board is announced.
Although the President on several oc-
casions has told those Senators at the
Capitol who arc friendly toward him
that he would not stand for the Cham.
berlain bill or any action OF that kind.
there have been indications in the last
few days that the criticisms OF business
Of the War Service Commission Of the
United States Chamber OF Commerce
and president OF the Sloss-ShefYield ID
Company. and others have found great
weight with him. The failure OF the
Government through any existing
agency to organise industry OH a broad.
comprehensive plan. as has been done
by the Munitions Depa rtment OF Great
Britain. has been one of the chief points
emphasized by these business men.
Bernard NJ, Baruch. It is understood.
in the last few days has pointed ou, to
the President that no such organization
of business can be effected by Mr..
Bakers plan. confined as that is to sup
plies for the War Department. The in
ability Of the War Industries Board to
accomplish much In the way OF organ
izing industries through its absolute
lack Of authority iSAs also been EN-
phasized In these conferences.
Through his talks with MFR. Baruch
and others the President is understood
to have drawn up a plan under which the
chairman OF the War Industries Board
to be appointed be invested by the
President with much larger authority
than heretofore, authority almost a.
great as that given by the Chamberlain
bill to the head Of the proposed depart
ment Of munitions.
The Chamberlain bill az introduced
established "an executive agency to be
known as the Department Of Munitions -
The functions Of the director az stpa.
lated in the bill would be TO exercise
under the President full power TO pur-
chase. provide FOR and control the pro-
curement. manufacture. transportation
and distribution OF such munitions of
war
Baruch C0NVincea Wilson.
A study Of the bill In the light OF lis
talks with Mr. Barucii and others Is sal
to have convinced the President that an
Commander in Chief of the army and
navy he can delegate powers to the
chairman Of the War Industries Board
that will have the effect OF accomplish
ing to great eNsen, what the authors
of this bill had in mind.
That the President would make some
move which would deprive his opponents
in Congress OF much Of their ground for
supporting the Chamberlain bill has been
predicted for some time. There is good
reason for believing that the chance OF
appointing a new head OF the War In
dustries Board had afforded the Presi-
dent Just the opportunity he has been
seeking.
Since the War Industries Board was
established the chairman has merely
been one member Of the board. The new
plan under contemplation Is to make HIN
more or less supreme. the other membrs
acting largely as subordinates. II wyaH
also give him direct authority from I've
President. whereas the board now has
no authority OF its own. but is an Sad.
visory body OF the Council OF Nans,na'
Defence. The bureau chiefs can 1T any
time overrule Its rulings at prese NJ.
The chairman under the propos ~ plar
would have power OF his own 10 make
price agreements and TO orgr sJize and
distribute industries with the needs O,
the army. navy and other az .ucies con,
sidered as a whole, and thus R~ould come
pretty near to being a murhrlons chief
All Of this can he done. 1t IS contended
by some Of the friends Of nv, President
without any explanation 20 Congress.
A better distribution Of ~ dustry is one
Of the objects OF this plan. according &c
those who have discusNd the matter
Failure to consider thC.' industrial par,
OF the country as whole in placina
orders has already IN to a situation
where some sections have seen a Rrea,
curtailment in non-' r sential industries
without any replace'p ent by war indus.
tries In conseQue nee there has beer
presented the problHn Of the unemployed
despite the fact Il Ut the crisis calls foi
the labor Of every able bodied person.
Two Men Sks ntioned for Job.
In connection. with this reported plan
by which the president expects to NEE,
the criticism st the business interests
there has bee n a rumor that T.. r. Stet-
tinius might be selected as the new
chairman oS the War Industries Boa rd
Mr.. Stettir Ms has just been made Sur
as such rs a subordinate to the Direc, O,
OF Purcr p ses in the War Department
Col. Pic Ne. The only other person he
Ing meg ioned for the new post IN Mr.
Baruch. at present a member Of the
board. I That the choice lies between the
two is. the belief Of many at the capital
Co NSention over the Senate Military
Com NJ ittee bills for q war cabinet and
mui Htions director will he renewed In
the Senate tomorrow. when advocates
Of ,t.he legislation will begin what they
CA a campaign Of education Senate,
Hitchcock tNeb) will speak In suppor,
n the bills and viii, be followed or
Tuesday by Senator Wadsworth IN. W
"a Republican member Of the Military
Committee. Replies are planned by Ad,
ministration leaders.
( Secretary Baker will be recalled or
Tuesday before the Senate committed
for cross-sxamination regarding his re,
cent statement Of army achievements
Later In the week he will appear before
the House committee. Afterward Ad
ministration leaders hope to minimiz.
agitation for the bills. and they are con,
0dent 10 nravAn ntinw thajr nopalAn.o,,.. ., . .