The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-01-31

Europe the people Of this country ar
Witnessing the Dem ocratic party
the unmaking in the United States
Whilst the various bureaucrats ap
pointed by an administration which ha
well-nigh destroyed free government
here are Boosting of what they did t
win the war; their utter inability t.
handle the problems of peace or wa
gives distress to the people and as
surance that 1920 will find written OF
the maidstone of the party founded by
Jefferson this epitaph: Wrecked b,
Wilson,
Upon Americas entrance into the
war the governmen entered into vari'
Gus construction contracts on cost
plus basis. which temped contractors
to disregard expense and tended tc
encourage Stacking on the part OF
workmen. AS a result, while men
were idling on government contracts,
private employers were unable to get
help for the essential work of produC-
ton, particularly on farms. Favorit-
ism was practiced in the letting of
contracts. as illustrated in the facts
disclosed by the Hughes aircraft re-
port
ain early selections for important
war work, partisanship was considered
before ability At the head of the fuel
Administration was placed a man of
no experience in coal production. with
the result that we had heatless, light
less and worthless periods at a time
when full-time work was of vital I'M
portance. Ship-building and aircraft
production were put under the control
of experienced business men only
after public criticism has forced the
President to act. Too late is written
upon almost every page Of our war
history
"a few of the most glaring in
stances of departm breakdowns
in Washington are here enumerated:
war Department |. The air
plane fiasco-23,0O0 airplanes promised
our troops by July 81 of last year.
About 1000 planes of American manu-
facture delivered, reported by the COM
mander of the American aero squad
ron at Verdun to be fire traps About
$l,500,000,OO0 appropriated for this
program.
2. Nearly s5,OoO,oOO,OOO appropriate
ed for ordnance. Pershing's report
gives only 100 seventy-five's delivered
up to cessation of hostilities. No
guns of large caliber delivered.
s. Immense appropriation for gas
shells. Reports show first American
gas shells arrived on the front the day
following the signing of the armistice
a. Inability to meet requirements
for uniforms, field glasses, and many
other articles of equipment compelled
the department to make acquisitions
on Great Britain and France.
5. Pay to soldiers overdue on an
average of 6 months. Private bene-
fits held in this country to succor I'M
paid, stranded soldiers returned from
Europe. Financial bureau of War
Department utterly demoralized and
unable to say when claims can be
liquidated. Secretary Baker hypo-
critically blames congress, although
congress appropriated $201 .654 279
for pay of officers, and $776,458,72l.O4
for enlisted men of the line, and the
deficiency appropriation act of No
vember 4th appropriated an additional
VO>O'O-S ~ lOl tHC pay Ol Objects, en-
listed men, and nurses.
g. Rehabilitation program de-
Commands and counter
mands reported emanating from de-
partment daily Status of discharged
soldiers wearing uniforms unde-
termined, one consequence of which is
a fearful amount of drunkenness re-
ported, notably in ST. Louis, which is
not supplied with military police.
]. Department unprepared to take
care of wounded returning from the
front. See speech of Senator Cham
berlain. Dem.
mess Not yet all in. Many cable
grams incorrect Cables clogged with
details of dress and social functions
Of Wilson junketeers.
Navy partment-Daniels, a !
small navy man in 1916, now asks for |
navy biggest in the world Just at the
time the President is trying to organ
ze League of Nations, one purpose
Of which is to reduce ornaments.
State Departm ent-Russian situa-
ion grows daily more grave. Poles
IN the rampage. Bolshevikist armies
overrunning Baltic Provinces and |
Jkrainia and seeking junction with
German bolshevists. Mexican situa
ion becoming acute. Uncertainty
What to do with respect to recognizing
costa RIGA. President has minated
hat war is over, applicants for pass
'orts told it is not. State department
Unable to function while the heads are
n Europe
~. S. Shipping Board-Promised
100000 tons of shipping by end OF
his year; estimate Of 100000 tons
onsidered fair, Hurley complicatinq
matters in Europe by purchases OF Il
'otash of which Germany is practi-
ally the sole producer, and trying to /
fleet standard sea pay for all nations
log Island project results in expcndi
ure of over $60,OOO.OO0. But one ship
eported completed, and that was
65 per cent riveted to cclo
rate Presidents visit there.
Division OF Railroad Control-Ter
11onths under government operation
he revenues increased $735, 900 OOn
lie to a so per cent increase in pas