New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-07
DEMOCRATS IN U. 5.
SENATE EXPOSE
SECRETARY BAKER
CHAMBERLAIN LAYS BARE
FAILURES OF PACIFIST
WAR OFFICIAL WHICH RE.
SUITED IN DEATH AND
DISASTER TO SOLDIERS
(From Official Congressional Record

From Official Congressional Record
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN. Mr.. P+e.i-
dent, I do wish that the distinguished
Senator from Colorado (Mr. Shat
roth) had reserved his castigation Of
those who dare criticize until after I
had made the few observations
which have in mind to make. They
will be in the nature of suggestions,
rather than in the way of criticism,
hut in the view of the fact that the
Senator has spoken of criticisms
Of the War Department in the past.
and having been one Of those who
dared indulge in such criticisms. I
am rather disposed to believe that
the Senator had some reference to
my humble self, and undertakes
now to frighten me from the path
which I have mapped out for my
self. assuming. perhaps that I intend
to do now what did m the past. and
that is to criticize those In charge
Of the Military Establishment. But,
Mr.. President, shalt not be deter
red from the discharge Of 4 duty as
Il see it, whether there be timid
souls or not. or courageous spirits,
K you will, who feel that II Is not
proper for anybody connected with
one branch Of the Government to
criticize those connected with an
other branch. or to make such sug-
gestions as one may see fit to assist
in the proper conduct OF the war or
in the adjustment Of the affairs of
the Government after peace has
been declared.
The role Of critic, Mr.. President,
is never a pleasant one; but, in my
opinion. no one tan contribute so
much to the welfare Of this country
as can the man who dares sometimes
10 criticize when there is inst
foundation for such criticism. There
is nothing that so compels man
who has a duty to perform. If there
is ~thc least disposition upon his
part TO do it carelessly or do II
wrongly. as to turn the Fight upon
his pathway, so that the observant
Public may see that his feet pursue
the proper path. and that the duties
which devolve upon him are properly
performed.
Mr.. President. conditions to-day,
after the armist'ce has been signed
are not very unlike those which ex.
isted when Congress convened in
December. 1917. When I say that I
mean that when Congress convened
in 1917 the Members thereof were
overwhelmed with letters Of COM
plaint, and particularly was that true
as to Members of the Military AZ
fairs Committee and the chairman
Of that oommittee-from men of
practical affairs all over the United
States. and from good mothers who
had sons either in France. or from
wives whose husbands had gone
over. calling attention to the fact
that the Industrial life Of this Republic
so far as preparation for war was
concerned. was not doing its duty
rrder the inefficient direction of the
War Department. whose duty was to
see to it that industries were so
marshaled, were so coordirated,
were so arranged, that those things
which were necessary to the safe
conduct of the war should be done
and performed effectively. Com
nlaints are coming to us now. Mr..
President. not with REGARD TO in
dustrial l;fe. but now that the war
has been won and our sons and
brothers and all are coming back to
us. armless and legless and eyeless,
that America is unprepared to take
care of them now. just as America
was unprepared for more than a
year to so conduct the war as to
conserve fife. to conserve energy,
and 70 conserve the health Of this
Republic, as far as it was possible to
do.
Lives Uselessly Sacrificed
God only knows, Mr.. President
how many lives have been uselessly
sacrificed by our unpreperaed con-
dition. even up to the time the ar
mistice was signed Acting upon
complaints that were made to the
Military Affairs Committee and to
its members prior to tie assembling
of Congress in December. 1917, the
committee began to investigate con-
d;tions in the War Department. It
investigated the situation with re-
ference to ordnance, munition. and
arms of all kinds: it investigated
the Quartermaster's Department;
it investigated aircraft production; ;
it investigated every branch of the
Military Establishment which had
some duty to perform in connection
with the war. While there was no
formal report signed and presented
by the committee to the Senate, ex-
cept with reference to aircraft. yet
the deliberations of the committe"
induced it TO report at first bill
creating director of munitions. as
the views of the CON-
mittee as to what was necessary to
coordinate the Ordnance Depart-
ment so that the best results might
be attained. and. next. further carrv-
ing out the views of the committee.
a bill creating War cabinet, not TO
interfere with the functions of the
Commander in Chief of the Army
and Navy. but to still further CEN
tralize the power of this government
in some hands between the Presi-
dent of the United States and the
fiehting force. so that industrial life
might BE- still further utilized and
plans mapped out for the future con-
duct of the war.
The Commander in Chief of the
Army and Navy on the 18th day of
January. 1918. disapproved Of the bill
creating 4 director of munitions. and