The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-07-07
ALLEGES SECRET
GOVERNMENT HELD
ABSOLUTE POWER
IN WAR MANAGEMENT
Chairman Graham Asserts big
Business" Was Favored and
Congress and Cabinet Stripped
Of Legal Powers.

Washington. July Charges that
the president organized the council OF
national defense before war was de-
clared In absolute violation OF law an
thereby created secret government
Of the United States" which formulai-
ed war legislation, dictated policies tn
county was pursue. and befriended
big business" were made todaS by
Chairman Graham OF the special
house committee investigating war de
pnrtment expenditures.
/ Minutes OF the council were read TO
the committee by SIR. Graham to-
gciher with a report In which he as
serted the courcil assumed such broad
powers that Major General Goethals.
liormer cnief of the purchase. storage
and traffic division OF the war depart.
mont, dclied u. cabinet members pro-
tested against lts activities and Judge
ibatN, Cnuirmau OF the board of the
Z United states steel corporation. ac-
cuscd u OF operating ga fragrant ViO-
lation OF law.
: Air. Graham declared the president
Great ri the secret government by
ignoring and reversing the intent OF
congress tn autohrlzing the establish
men Of council Of national defense,
In August 1916. As authorized by
congress, he said. the council was 10
be composed Of six members OF the
cabinet, who were to be the real eN-
ecutiNes and seven civilians to he Sc
lectcd by the pre- sdcnt who were TO
set In a purely advisory capacity. In
stead OF doing this Mr.. Graham as
serted, the president made the ad-
visory commission the real executive ..
clothing them with unprecedented
and almost ifllmitable powers
"nehind closed doors, weeks and
even months before the war was de-
cltred." ne faid, these seven men de.
signed practically every war measure
which congress subsequently enacted.
They devised the entire system OF
purchasing war supplies, planned q
press censorship. designed a system o.
TODD control ana tolected Herber
Hoover as It's director, even determin'
ing on tho daylight saving scheme.
Conceived within the law hu
u roug 4 int existence IN absolute VIC
lauon OF law, II is not surprising tC
Una that TINS secret % government OF
the United states itselt persistent,
J guut,u aud oven violated the law
:, hat u allowed Interested parties to H.
thr prices %. war supplies; that II pu
the people OF the country TO incalcal
uhla unnrccsars expense and carrie
I tl MS WIN "A hlhU manu-
Mi. Graham declared that when Ma
i1r General Goctntls was called "a
the elcy, nth hour To- rescue the wa
department from the public uniiuul
which was fast settling upon II a.
result Of the methods aud incaEacltl
uf the commits sion. hc e, pudiated ans
practically deflcd IT,
"Our soldiers were actually dying o
pucumoni.. "a the camps because o
lack Of proper clothing and blankets.
Ar Grunam said "and Gcnctal ioeth
uls assumed the duties Of qudrterma
ter general only ON CpudItion IA
hould have free scope In the perform
+ nnce of his duties unhnmp"rcd b. IN
: council of national dofcnsr.
Immediately he took from IN
members uf that council their poWc
10 order purchases aud fiN prices an
b soon dispensed with tho services a.
thuse members Of the advisory com
j. mission vino had 80 Il plprthly huu
o lgleI the control of suppl cs for ia
Z army
Judge cary advised the advisor
i commission, Mr.. Graham said. that
was operating in disregard ot an
. sherman law. the clayton Inv an
4 "au other statutes that are suppose
Z to regulate bus ness, particularly hi
/ lbusines~." when the attorney g"t
4, eral was called upon 10y the comm =,
3 sion 90 answer Judge Gary, Mr., Una
!, ham said hn answered that the mat
tors referred to as violations ot ln'
were matters OF national policy
lrtth,r than legal question, "Aftei
>, W rds " Mr. Graham declared. "whe
q thera W eNi lently q scussion
lcingres4 as to l legality Of m NIB
@ OF committees On tlc couucil buyin
4 from themselves. the council discusse
10 this general policy nndi was snsses