The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-02-05
HITCHCOCK
Continued from Pirst Pase.)

shipping figures" he added, ''for one
might be charged with giving informa-
ton to the enemy. All who are In
formed as to the present supply 81 our
shipping we're thunderstruck at the
statements OF Secretary Baker. His
sanguine predictions as to our ability
! to, ship men 10 Europe and supply
them when there are Congregations Of
tho widest sort.
Preposterous Claim.
ITO supply million men in France.
supposing we could get them over
there, it will require 100000 tons of
shipping in constant use. We all
know tho total tonnage now available
Is nothing like that amount. We all
fear It. will not approximate that a
year from now.
Yet the secretary Of war IS so out Of
touch with the shipping board and
! shipping authorities that he makes a
statement that Is absolutely prepos.
ferrous. have no doubt Of his sim
cer!ty, but this act indicates again the
extent to which one department is out
of touch with another department"
! No Master Plan.
! Turning 10 Secretary Bakers war
plan. Senator Hitchcock said;
secretary Baker says we have plans.
! am sorry 10 disagree with him. II
there Is one thing more conspicuous
by It's absence than any other In the
operation of the various departments
and bureaus In Washington It has been
planning for tho future. ! do not deny
that the various departments have
planned as far az they could In ad-
/ vance. but who has prepared tho mas
! ter plan which Will harmnnizn MI tho
other plans" Nobody. Nobody could.
| Referring to the presidents oppuS-
| ton to the two committee bills. the sem
ntor said It was on the ground that IN"
| president alone has responsibility for
conduct of the war, adding:
Terms It an Absurdity.
The mere statement presents an alb
surdity."
Asserting that congress has a large
measure Of responsibility. Senator
Hitchcock said It would be ''monstrous"
| 20 hold the president responsible fur
tho Two millions of tons OF freight piled
! up In Now York. tho breakdown OF
! TRANSPORTATION. tho muddlc and tumble
of priority shipments. the SHORTCOMINGS
Of the ordnance department and quar-
termastcr's department. sufcrings of
tho unnecessarily sick soldiers and nine
months delay In construction Of the
government powder factory" The son
| ntor summarized the enormous burdens
on the president, including his formu-
! lating n foreign policy. designing an
the Legislation for congress TO pass die.
! tating the industrial and political AZ
! tlyitica of the country and looking ~
:rr expenditures "f $3.50 00D. 900 Il week.
4, l,,,
n,ittee to report the cabinet hill und.' 1t
, H.. continued. IF press reports h. true.
he objects oven la n discussion Of this
, LEGISLATION in the senate. This attitude
| on the part Of tho president is unrortu-
nate but not altogether unnatural.
wilson's Leadership..'
! I'm the first place thu president be-
longs to tho school az political rhlosn.
; nhers who adhrr" I" III" belief that all
, important Legislation should "r.@inatc
with and be proposed by the executive.
I cannot subscribe to this SCEciu" q!
! government. although it has som" "h-
! yious ADVANTAGES. In that It provides
! leadership. order aud program
"Siucc he became president MIR VII
son has enforced his view up"n con.
crcss to large dnGr." and generally
with good results. In tn" main ! ha"'
been ono Of those who have f"ilnw"d
his leadership and supported his poll
, cies and I expect TO Do :" i'll tII" fu-
turc. Now and th"n. however, an ~
/ ception must .hc radc. This is one
| Of those cases.
! The Other Side.
leenator Williams. az Mississippi. And
Red. Of Missouri. Democrats. replied,
ronposing III" war reorganization
measures as proposals 10 uSurp FRESH