The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-07-10
CHARGE CLIQUE
RULED nation
IN WORLD WAR
Probe Committee Asserts Presi-
dent Established "Secret Gov
eminent" Through Council Of
National Defense.
BY Associated Press.

that the president organized the
council of national defense before
war was declared, in absolute vio-
lation Of law and thereby created
a secret government Of the Unit
ed States" which formulated war
legislation, dictated policies the
country was to pursue, and be-
friended "big business" were
made today by Chairman Ora
ham, of the special House commit
tee Investigating war department
expenditures.
Minutes OF the council were
read to the committee by MI. Gra-
ham, together with a report in
which he asserted the council as
sumed such broad powers that Ma
jor General Goethals, former chief
Of the purchase, storage and traf-
&c division of the war depart
ment, defed it; cabinet members
protested against it's activities and
Judge Gary, chairman Of the
board Of the United States Steel
corporation, accused it of operat-
ing in fragrant violation of law
The advisory committee OF the coun-
Gil Of national defense was composed
Of Hollis Godfrey, Toward E. Coffin,
Bernard M. Baruch, Samuel Gompers,
Franklin H. Martin, Julius Rosenwald
and Daniel Willard.
Mr.. Graham decIara1 the president
created the "secret government by
ignoring and reversing the intent of
congress, in. authorizing the establish
ment of a council Of national defense in
August, 1916. Az authorized by con-
gress, he said, the council was to be
composed OF six members of the a b
met, who were to the real executives,
and seven civilians to be selected by
the president, who were to act in a
purely, advisory capacity. Instead OF
doing this, Mr.. Graham asserted, the
president made the advisory commits
sion the real executives, Clothing then
with unprecedented and almost illirnit-
! able powers"
Designed War Measures.
Behind closed doors, weeks and ever
months before war was declared he
sd, these seven men designed prac'
al ,ly every war measure which con
subsequently enacted. They de
the entire system of purchasing
supplies, planned a press censor
- signed q system OF rood contro
and Sc ..cted Hebert Hoover as it's di
rector and even determined on the day
light saving scheme.
Conceived within The law. blu
brought into existence in absolute vic
lation of law, it is not surprising t.
find that his secret government Of thu
United States itself persistcntly ig
nored and even violated the law, tha
it allowed interested parties to fix tn
prices of wal supplies; that it put III,
people. of the country to incalculal i
unnecessary expense and carriet
things with q high hand"
Cocktails Action.
Mr.. Graham declared that when Ma
inr General Cocktails was called "a
the eleventh hour" to rescue the wa
department from the public obliquy
which was fast settling upon it as
result OF the methods and incapacit,
} Of the commission. he ~repudiatcd an,
practically defed it
Our soldiers were actually dyini
Of pneumonia in the camps because o
lack Of proper clothing and blankets
Mr.. Graham said, land General Go
thals assumed the duties OF quart.
, master general only or condition
i, should have free scope in the perform
ance of his duties, unhampered by til
, council of rational defense.
! Immediately he look from the mem
: hers ri that council their power to or
der purchases and fix prices and 500
r dispensed with the services of thos
! members of the advisory IoniTiiasi0
, who had so depiorably bunSled tn
| control of supplies for the army"
Judge Gary advised the advisor
: commission, Mr.. Graham said, that
3 wa operating in disregard Of tn
Sherman law, the Clayton law and "a
other statutes that are supposed t
regulate business. particularly bi
business
When the attorney general was calle
upon by the commission to answe
Judge Gary, Mr.. Graham said. he an
\ swered that the matters referred to a
" violations of law were matters of ma
tionnl policy" rather than q legal ques
ton.
Alleges Subterfuse.
. Afterwards. Mr.. Graham declare
ic No "
in as to the iilegaiity of mem
bers of the committees on the counc
buying from themselves, the our
discussed the genera! policy. and it ws
suggested that this embarrassing!
u might be removed by the plan of II
committee reorganization q undo
consideration.
: "Tiae minutes show that on eco
: IF TIM 50 called embarrassment u
L. industries board was created and con
: mittees were appointed by the nation
u chamber OF commerce so The letter
the law might be complied with. b,
by which scherpe no Iart of h rnsthl
y OF buying was changed in the s!iei.te
u degree SO far as / can observe"
IS Discussed Draft Early.
Citing cases. in which he said Il
u council formulated legislation before w
was declared, which legisia ion lat
4 was considered by congress, MIR. Or
Is ha;t declared that On February Is. 191
the council discussed the draft sgstc
md considered a report from Con,mi
.ioners Samuel Gonipers AMI IIowa
=. Coffin. relative to the exclusion
ahcr from miiltary roruiro. ru \