The Washington herald., 1918-02-09
MADE
POLITICS BACK
OF WAR PROBE
Senate Debate Develops
Warm Exchange Over
Baker Quizzing.

Administration Democrats charg-
ed yesterday on the Senate floor
that Republicans wese trying to
distort the war probe SO that Sec
retary of War Baker might be used
as a campaign issue.
Senator Thomas of Colorado said: /:
7 hope the inquiry is not degen-
Grating into what seems to be q
gradually growing sentiment-that
it is petty cross-examination of q
public Official"
He read from a newspaper article
headed, Baker Campaign Issue for
Republicans" and purporting to be
an interview with a Republican ma
tional committeeman.
Senator Borah of Idaho denied in
behalf of Republicans that the War
Department would be made an is
sue.
A stormy tilt ensued between
Senator Lewis of Illinois and Sem
ator Chamberlain. chairman of the
Senate Military Affairs Committee.
Chamberlain Explains.
why wasn't the Secretary called
first in the inquiry?" demanded Sem
ator Lewis of Senator Thomas who Is
a member of the Military Committee.
why IL the investigation was to
obtain information, were witnesses
first called who made him the subject
of attack, and he was later brought in
as if he were a defendant answering
an Indictment"
May I answer that?" said Senator
Chamberlain, rising to his feet. well.
let me say" declared Senator Cham
berlain. "It was at the Secretary's
own request he was not first called.
He preferred that the men under him
should testify as experts first And
we suited his convenience.
'Tf the chairman said Senator
Lewis, says he knows that from any
conversation he had with the Secre-
tary, 1t would close the question with
me. But il the Senator tells it be-
cause he heard It from others, he de-
duces It, - -
Answers Lewis.
'T don't state things on the hear
say of Others" Chamberlain said
very loudly and distinctly. II state
things as facts. 1 will say to the
Senator from Illinois, the committee
acted as it fert it had a right to
act. And I will say to the Senator,
it intends to proceed along that
line"
This colloquy was precipitated
when Senator Thomas read the
newspaper article. He said he con-
sidered it human nature that par
tisan advantage would be taken
quickly by one side or another. SEN
ator Pindexter, OF Washington,
asked:
why make a political issue of
it? Does the Senator imply that
the question of efficiency in con-
Quoting the war should not be pre-
sented to the tribunal of public
opinion? Have not the American
people a right to render their YER
dict in an election?"
IT'S perfectly proper" said Mr..
Thomas. "I mention politics only
because I am afraid we are going
beyond the point in Investigations.
Thomas Retorts.
We'll possibly that's true" said
Senator Chamberlain. But it was
On Mr.. Bakers own initiative that
he came again. If he is being
prosecuted it is at his own re-
quest"
"I never said that" snapped Sem
ator Thomas.
Il did not say you did"
But do say there seems to be
a sentiment to that effect in differ
ent parts of the country"
That's not my information"
came back Senator Chamberlain.
You admit the investigation has
done good?"
TT certainly has"
You do not disapprove of the
examinations"
Il do not
Then do you think when a ma
jority of the committee decides on
an investigation. lit should halt in
its duty because the result creates
an issue for one or the other
party?'
WELL" said Senator Thomas,
after a man has been examined
and cross-examined and examined
again, there is some Justification
for the outside view that this is
nnf deaiPnod