The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-02-11

N0MMAS it eero occurred to you that practically every endeavor of
Hall 1M the American people in the val resulted in the most phenomenal
UEzr3u success, while in almost every instance the efforts OF n admin
MHAA115M5T isradon ended in dismal failure? Our soldiers suddenly cahed
SXN from peaceful pursuits, briefly trained, poorly equipped, put up
U6UY1N a fight the like of which Europe has never witnessed The
- Liberty loans we're as a rule greatly oversubscr1bed; war
Savings and Thrift stamps we're bought to the limit; a people whose prodr
gaIhy with food had once been notorious, performed marvels in self-denial
and conservation. Contributions to the Red Cross, the YMCA, the YMHA,
the Kc, war chests, tobacco and literature funds, and countless other actvi
ties to ameiorate the soldiers lot we're handsomely responded to. and
generally boosted far over the limits set. Producers of a equipment, from
the manufacturer Of. trucks to the knitter of socks, came through in fine
shape. That the end of the ar found the government storage spaces gfuted
with billions of dollars worth of material wa % fault Of the makers, but
must be blamed Ito the dlatory Mr.. Baker.
The failures of the administration in the conduct of the war are wen-nigh
numbgless They began with the obstinate refusal for two and a half years
to make ready. and where they will end n mn car say. 1t is almost
impossible to cite an instance Of where a administration effort really
odd1ot uniforms, drilling in mud and sleeping in insamtary camps. They
are returning without funds, many of the wounded without proper hospital
accommodations. and their families have yet to receive their alotments. We
have had the airphne breakdown, the ordnance breakdown, and the ship
building breakdown The country is strewn with val material of every
description which the government bought with a prodigaity beyond reason
and never delivered. and the great gas output ended in dumpage at sea
because it was realized too late. Our troops were transported in foreign
vessels, or foreign-bunt vessels operating under the American flag and Great
Britain and France equipped them with airplanes, guns, and partly with
clothing.
Where pressure of public opinion compelled administration reforms and
able men were eventually drafted to carry IN work, results at once
began % appear al for example, when Charles Schwab took owe the building
of ships, Stetunius became or quartermasterin-fact and Ryan began o n the
airplane program. But these reforms were adopted too late o be of effective
war service.
Comparison of successful American enterprise and exasperatng admins
trahon failures presents the most damning indictment Of a partisan. sectional
narrow-mnded, inefficient bureaucracy to be found in all the pages of history
But it has it's bright side. 1t indicates tina. the people themselves are there
with the goods; that it is the administration which they were begufed into
supporting the plea HE kept is out of war!" that is rotten to the core
And in 1920 the American people. selecting the branding iron or the Inspector
Generals department should burn into the hide of the Democrat Donkey
&c" meaning Inspected and Condemned"