Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-07-07


Minutes Of the council were read to
the committee by Mr.. Graham, to-
gether with reports in which he assert
ed the council assumed such broad
powers that Major General Goethals.
former chief Of the purchasing, storage
and traffic department of the war de-
partment, defied it, Cabinet members
protested against it's action and Judge
Gary, chairman Of the board Of direc
tors of the United States Steel Cor
p0ratiOn, accused its Operat tons of be-
ing fragrant violations Of the law.
Mr. Graham declared that the presi-
dent created a secret government" by
ignoring aud revising the intent of
congress authorizing the establishment
August, 1916.
AS authorized by congress the coun-
ell was to have been composed Of six
members of the cabinet, who were to
be selected by the executive and seven
civilians, who were to act in purely
an advisory capacity. Instead of doing
this, the president made the advisory
committee the real executives, clothing
them with unprecedented and almost
unlimited power.
Took Time by FOrelOek.
Behind closed doors weeks and even
months before the declara ton Of war,
Mr.. Graham said, these seven men dis
cussed practically every war measure
which was later adopted by congress.
He declared the system OF purchasing
war supplies was planned, press censor
ship discussed, as well as the system
OF food control and the selection of
Herbert Hoover director was made
and even the details of the day light
saving game.
Conceived within the law. but
brought into existence in absolute VIC
latiOn of the law, it is not surprising
that this secret government of the
United States proceeded to ignore and
violate the law, that it allowed interest
ed parties to Odictate prices on war sup
plies which put the people of the cOun'
try to incalculable unnecessary ex-
pense and carried them through with
high hand" said Mr.. Groham.
National Policy.
Judge Gary advised the advisory
committee that their operations were
in entire disregard of the Sherman
act, the Clayton law and all other
statutes supposed TO regulate business,
particularly big business. When the
attorney general was called upon byl
the council to answer Judge Gary, he
declared that the matter referred col
as violation of the law was a matter
of national policy rather than legal
question.
Some Things Done.
Citing the case in which he said the
council formulated legislation before
the war was declared, which legislation
later was considered by congress. MIR.
Graham declared that on Feb. IL, 1917.
the council discussed the draft system
and received reports from Samuel
GOmpers and Howard Il. Coffin rela-
tive to the exclusion of labor from mill
tary service. and on the same day rec
commended that Herbert Hoover be
made food controller. and on March 3
devised the daylight saving scheme
and recommended federal censorship
of the press.
About the first thing the council took
up was the scheme of communication
between the manufacturers and the
government, Mr.. Graham said. Although
this scheme was to enable the indus
tries to deal with the government
us one man, the government was ut no
time able to deal with industries
throughout the war. Numerous fed
eral bureaus bid against each other for !