Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-08
SECRET GOVT" DICTATED
U.S.. POLICIES AND LEGISLATION
PRIOR TO ENTERING WAR
charges Made by Chairman Graham of
House Committee Investigating War Dept
Expenditures = Names Seven Big Men
Who Determined All of So-CaIled War
Legislation Months Before Declaration of
War Against Germany Council of Nation
al Defence Organized by President in Viola
ton of Law

Washington. July Seven men
formed q secret government If the
United States" which. working "be-
hind closed dourE" determined all "
the so called war Legislation weeks
and even nun1hE' before war was
declared against Germany, Chair
man Graham. of the Louise commit
tee Investigating War department
expenditures. charged today after
reading INFO the record d digest IF
the minutes of the Council of Ma
rional Defense.
The seven men were named py
Mr. Graham as Hollis Godfrey. How
ara L. Coffin. Bernard Nj Baruca,
Samuel Gompers. Franklin P Mar
tin, julius Rosenwa.d and Daniel
Willard, members of the advisory
cnrnmlHslun Of The Council. The
cammlssILn. ne added was de
signed by law n arr in purely an
advisory capacity Ii the Council,
composed Of CabIner officers. bur the
president. ne asserted. made them
the -eaI executives.
After M Graham had read To the
investigating COMMITTEES a digest de-
signed 10 show Lha1 the military
drEet. 1DnG control ana pres censor
ship mad been discussed by me com
MISSION several weeks before wa
waE declared. Representative Rea-
VIE. Republican. Of Nebraska inter
ruprInE, asked If AL THIS WAS prior
10 the presidents speech On armed
neutrality IT which ne said ne was
not contemplating war" The chair
man answered afhrmatlvely.
Later N the recital Of the diges+
Mr.. Graham SAD tnR1 the censure
If the council and commission. it
terHd in Senate anc House, led M.
CssfaIn 10 urge thai a definite c1an-
nel uf contact" be established De
rwesn the Council and Congress.
In other words commented the
chairman. Congress ought 10 De
educated -
In brief M Graram's digest
charged tna1 the president ORGANIZED
the Council IN violation Of the Law
and -aaI II III addiLlon ID framing
Legislation, dictated the policies the
country was 10 pursue. anG bsfr1end-
&c big business" Included II the
report read into the Record was i
letter ny Judge Gary advising the
cummIsEIun thai II was disregard
ing me iaws supposed 10 Regulate
business.
Minutes Of the council were read
ID the commI-Iae by Mr. Graham
with d export II winch ne asserted
tfe council assumed sucn broad
powers -hat Major General Goerhnls,
former cnlet Of the purchase, storage
ana traffic division of the war de-
pa--nen1 defled IL cabinet mem
1ers protested against rs acts and
Judge ZaT-r, president NJ the United
States corporation. accused II Of op-
Grating In ''fiagrart violation Of
Jaw"
Mr. Graham declared the P-esi-
dent c-ea-ed the secret government
pE Ignoring and reversing the intent
u congress II authorizing the eEtab-
liHnrnenT n d council Of national de-
tense II August, 1915 AS authorized
by Congress-. ne said. the council WIS
~ ne composed Of Six members of
tne cabinet VIM were To be the -eai
executives and seven civilians II ne
named by the President WIN wu1,id
act II purely advisory Capacity. In
sread Of doing this. Mr.. Graham as
se-'rnd. the President made the at,vIs
IVY committee the -sal executives,
'cioLhnE them with unprecedented
and almost llInItanle powers
Behind Chased doors weeks an1
even months before war was decIs-
"a. ne SAID. these seven men r+-
signed practically every war meas
ure which Congress subsequently, an
acted
Ihev devised the entire uurrf1as-
Ing IF ships. planned . urnsy csn-
sorBhip. designed a system uf fppd
cuDrTm and seierred Eerng.-- Eo~Ne-
as ITS director and even determined
IN the daylight SAVING system"
'Cunreived within the law. on.
brought into existence in absui,,ta ri
citation of law II If not surprisinr to
find this secret government of ri,e
United States itself persistnutiv ir
norad and even violated the law.
thar II allowed Interested parties In
FIX the prices n war supplies: tts+ II
pun the peupie W the COUNTRY IN in
cnlcuiabis unnsceHsarv expense and
carried things with high hand
Continues on Page -Coiunrr 81