New Britain herald., 1919-07-08
THE COUNCIL OF DEEPEN SE.

Chairman c ham, of the House committee to probe the conduct of the war, opened his campaign yesterday when he criticized the action of the President in his relations with the National Council of Defense. The "seCret government of the Unlted States,' so it is said ignored the law and instituted conditions which were absolutely lawlcSs. He declared that the seven members of the body who were supposed to act merely in an ad- visory capacity, were given control while the cabinet mem bers who were supposed to be in charge were rele- gated to the scra p-heap. These civil ians dictated policies and formulated all war legislation, said the Congress- man. He cited Goethals and his aIss legged action in obtaining supplies for' army camps, where there were pone before, by practical defiance of tRe+ council. Naturally he made an at tempt to line up the Deer PecpuT by taking q fall out of Big Business which the council was supposed to have befricnded.
 hIiSmanaEcn1e ent was present, in the Army, the Navy and the supply de- partm of both, at home, and abroad There is no doubt of that, An appalling lack of knowledge was in evidence on all sides. Despite this the Congressman had better look to Spe- cific charges against government off cials and individuals on the Council before he makes such general state mcnts as he has made. We all know that many units lacked in essentials of life and fightinG We would like to know whose fault it was. We are not satisfied with genera liza tions. If Gen eral Goethals succeeded by summary action in getting army blankets to a, camp he is to be Congrat ulatcd. But why does that prove that the Council was illegal: It is charged that the commissions first move was to meet with manufacturers and to arrange for the delivery of their supplies to the government. Where else could the government get the supplies? Ma tc"ialize them out of thin air? It was charged that the commission sold, as civilians, it's own manufactures to it. self as a government board and that profteering was the result. We have something to get hold of there. Was there profitcerinG? If there was the Council was to blame.
 The draft act was discussed before war was declared and plans formed for it, says Mir. Graham. What of it? The draft act was the rcasona ble solu- ton wasn't it? Acts took place behind closed doors which were not made public. We suppose that all of our war plans should have been given to the enemy through publishing them broadcast in Congressional Records The Council was high handed, says Mir. Graham. Granted, say we. But what else could it do? The Cabinet mem bcrs were not given their proper
 
 there was anyone availa blc who knew more of the subject than they did why should they be deferred to? It is all peanut politics, this investigation, so far. Get down to cases with your in NcStgation i'll Congress- Prove your assertions that there was intent to cheat and defraud the government. Prove that one man, or several profit ecrCd. Then we are with you.
 Meanwhile it might be well to con- vince us that you know what you arc talking about. IL might he fitting if you proved that the civilian Herbert Hoover, to whom the President gave food control. mismanaged his job. There was not food everywhere, did he do bis best to get it there or did he ignore the need when it was possible to supply the suffering district?
 Ever since the writer saw member