The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-11
SAYS WAR PROGRAM
WAS CUT AND DRIED.
Representative Graham Charges Pres
ident Formed Secret Govern
ment.-Gives Names of
Council.

Washington, July 7.-Seven men
formed ''secret government Of the
United States, (which, working be-
hind closed DOORS" determined all of
the so-called war legislation weeks
and even months" before war was de-
clared against Germany, Chairman
Graham, of the House committee, IN
vestigating war department expendi-
lures charged today after reading in
to the Record digest of the minutes
of the Council of National Defense.
These seven men were named by
Mr.. Graham as Hollis Godfrey, How
ard E. Coffin, Bernard NJ. Baruch,
Samuel Gompers, Franklin H. Martin,
julius Rosenwald and Daniel Willard,
members of the advisory committee
of the council This commission, he
added was designed by law to act in
purely and advisory capacity to the
council, composed of 6 cabinet menu
bers, but the resident, he asserted,
made them the real executives.
Before Neutrality Speech.
After Mr.. Graham had read to the
investigation committee digest de-
signed to show that the military
draft, food control and press censor
ship had been discussed by the COM
mission several weeks before war was
declared. Representatives Reavis, Re-
publican, Nebraska, interruptlng,
asked if 'Sall this was prior to the
presidents speech on armed neutral
ity, In which he said he was not
contemplating war; The chairman
answered affirmatively.
Later in the recital of the digest
Mr.. Graham said that censure of the
council and commission, uttered in
Senate and House, led Mr.. Coffin to
urge that "a definite channel of con-
tact" be established between the
council and congress. s'In other
words, commented the chairman,
~sCongress ought to be educated"
Aided Big Business.
: In brief, Mr.. Graham's digest
charged that the president organized
the council in violation of the law
and that in addition tS framing leg
islation, dictated policies the country
was to pursue and befriended 'big
business"
;. Included in the report read into
the record was letter by Judge Gary
advising the commission it was dis
regarding the laws supposed to reg
ulate business"
Denies the Charges.
Categorical denial of Chairman
.Graham's charges was made by Gros-
vner B. Clarkson, director of the
council, in statement issued tonight.
s'My examination the other day be-
fore Mr.. Graham's committee" Mr..
Clarkson said, SHOWED at the outset
a tendency on the part Of majority
of the committee to disclose that the
administration had taken no prepar-
edness steps before entering the war;
whereas the truth was that owing to
the almost providential presence of
the Council of National Defense, Gre
ated by congress itself eight months
before, great many far-sighted
plans had been initiated by the coun-
Gil acting alone as we'll as on the ad-
vice of its advisory commission.
Majority Republicans.
= ''The advisory commission Of seven
rnen was throughout the war COM
posed of at least three and probably
four republicans as was the huge ma
jority of the councils committees.
The councils minutes which l furn-
ished to Mr.. Graham's committee
with the hearty consent of Secretary
BAKER, CudlIIll1u VI Vic tOOASiA, oiAo
voluntarily supplemented with those
of the advisor commission, disclosed
beyond any o. ION that the council
had in the most constructive way
looked far ahead into the immediate
future to the end of preparing the
country for war. ''It is my deliber-
ate judgment that if the council, util-
izing the greatest experts in the
leading industries and utilizing them
in wholly non-partisan way, had not
taken it's forehanded steps America
would not have had time for mobiliz-
ing it's industrial resources which
made possible the winning of the
war.
Threshed Out Long Ago.
s'The Councils minutes having dis
closed these facts to Mr.. Graham, he