New-York tribune., 1918-01-25
Roosevelt Backs War Cabinet
And Favors Munitions Chief

sooo work at tins time. 1t is for that
reason that have supported and shall
continue to support, to the very best
OF my ability, Senator Chamberla
and his associates in the committee
VINO have been conducting the invest-
CATION into tho management. the ad-
ministration and the NAL -administra
tion of the War Department. | have
followed pretty carefully the actions
OF that Senatorial committee | do
not believe that any of its members
OF any side have been influenced in
'he smallest degree by partisanship.
No Division on Party Lines
"lIithcrto there has been no d.
vision in the committee along party
lines, and every possible proof has
been given by the individuals com
posing that committee that they Gr arc
actuated by a sincere and single mind
ed purpose to serve the country in
this war by finding out and telling the
truth, not with the object Of hurting
any man, even any man responsible for
grave abuses. save to the extent that
was necessary i'll order to correct those
abuses for the future.
GAS for the worth of those invcstira
tions, ! want to read from the minutes
Of the committee on rules Of the House
committee in reference to an invcstira-
tion proposed into the operations of
the Shipping Board. Mr.. Hurley, the
chairman of the Shipping Board, used
this languages:
"'Of course. think the Senate in
vestlgation has been very helpful. |
think they have brought out a number
of things that have not only hclped
to satisfy the public state of mind but
have helped me and helped the staff.
II the House committee should hold a
hearing and we should profit as much
inc Senate hearing it might be a good
thing
Il believe. no am going to alter that
statement--I am going to put it as it
should be put. know that the Senate
investigating committee under Senator
Chambcrlain has rendered the highest
service to this country do not believe
it know it,"
Recalls Own Criticism
Colonel Roosevelt then recalled the
sharpness with which when Governor
of New York he criticised the War De-
partment for having artillery that was
thrty-tive years old and practically
worthless. At that time the Colonel
. said the Cuban campaign "was a weltcr
Of confus ion, and that we were saved
from disaster only by the incompetency
of our foes"
81 stated" he continued, chat to
send our army under such conditions
f. against well-led, well-handled, we'll
prepared foe would inevitably have
invited disaster.
81 should like any man to point any
dlfterencc in frankness between what
| then said Of the Administration Of
winch was part, of the party to
which belonged, and what said dur
ing the last six months, except that
have been more moderate and guarded
IN the last six months
III said III my reports at the time
when | was under the War Department.
that the trousers and drawers given the
soldiers were worthless. said that
because it was true, not to harm any
body. but because it was the truth
When | point out that our men abroad
and at home have to a large extent
been shoeless. now say it because it
Is true. l speak Of the shortage of
shoes now just as | spoke in 1898 as to
the shortage of proper clothing for the
men, because it is true and because if
an unpleasant truth is not told it will
not be remedied.
Said 1t Because 1t Was True
II said it, not to hurt any one, but
because it was true, and in the same
way speak OF the conditions that have
led TO the outbreaks of spinal menir-
gltis and the outbreaks of pneumonia
of which the most distinguished VIC
tim has been cx-Representative Card
ncr. ! speak Of that now because it is
true. spoke the truth then in order
to remedy the conditions, | speak the
truth nov in order to remedy the con-
ditlons and for no other purpose, and
exactly as no fear Of what might hap
pen to me, personally or politically.
because of telling the truth about my
own administration Influenced me
then, in the same way Mr. Stones
hints as to the awful things that may
be done to me if go on. will have less
than no effect in making me refrain
from speaking that minimum of truth
which I think it absolutely necessary
to speak in order to secure a better
ment in conditions in our army at
home and abroad.
"One Of YOUR fraternity, Mr. Caspar
Whitney, had published. a week ago
last Sunday, in The New York Tribune,
possibly be done, to adequately equip,
arm and train the men who are uphold
ing the honor of the United States in
Uncle Sans uniform.
a statement as to conditions in France,
and that article is worth your while
reading when you are encountered with
the statement that there are shortcom-
ings in our camps here because every
thing has been sent to France. 1t may
have been sent. 1t did not get there.
1t has not been distributed.
~ wish that that article Of Caspar
Whitney's could be circulated through
out the length and breadth of this
land SO as to wake our people to the
prime need Of doing everything that
can possibly be done, ~ soon as it can
Duty to Tell the Truth
at is our duty to Toll the truth. If
conditions are good tell the truth. If
they are bad, tell the truth. If they
have been tad and become good, tell
the truth Take the Navy Departments: