South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-06
BY JOHN j. CARSON.


WASHINGTON, . c., oct. s. -
For nearly five months the house Of
representatives select committee to-
investigate war expenditures-pop
ularly known as the republican
"smellers'-has delved into the
problem Of how, and why. a demo-
cratic administration won the great
est war of history. Bands OF sub
"smellers" have journeyed TO the
Pacific coast, TO camps and canton
ments and 10 France in a search for
campaign material for the G.. o. p.
And what is the official result?
The probability that most of the sub
committees will not turn in their
reports TO Chairman w j. Graham
Of Illinois for six months. That would
be March, or about three months
before the holding of the republican
convention. There is little likeli-
hood. however, that the democratic
leaders will permit any such delay,
so far as their protests can carry.
Consequently much Of the informa-
ton will likely come out in debate
on the floor of the house long before
that time.
The country still recalls the defeat
administered 10 the subcommittee
on foreign expenditures at Paris in
their attempt to smell" Gen. Per-
shing on the day before he sailed
for America 1t is unjust to attri-
butte this defeat TO all the sub
"smelIers" as the democratic mem
Der. Henry d. Flood OF Virginia. had
no part in the affair: the chairman,
Royal c. Johnson. of South Dakota.
and his republican colleague, Oscar
Z Bland of Indiana. monopolizing
that feature.
Bland Hits Snag.
Johnson and Bland arrived in
Paris on Aug 10. and two weeks
later. Aug. 2S. called on Gen. Per
shing for information to be given
the following day. They were we'll
aware at the time Of their arrival
OF the approximate date Of the.
American commanders date of de-
parture, and later knew that Aug.
SO had been fixed as the time.
When they called upon the gem
eral at his headquarters the mem
bers of the committee were informed
by Gen. Pershing that all his docu-
ments. records. etc were either at
Brest or in the hold Of the "Levia
than" and that he did not want TO
make any important statements
without being able 10 refer TO them.
That did not satisfy Rep. Bland who
.ev,sr b n
der. That settled it for Pershing
and ne fatty refused to answer.
saving he would be available on his
return to the United States. when.
with his records in hand, he would
be glad TO reply TO all questions For
this he was denounced in cablegrams
by Johnson and Bland for over
riding congressional authority, etc.
AS i'm the cases OF the other sub
committees. the French explorers
failed TO uncover the expected cam
paign material. and their methods
have excited the derision and denun-
citation OF several OF their own party
organs As Rep Flood. "a congress
man OF many terms put il: There
was nothing in the evidence that
would appeal 10 any reasoning mind
as Justification for the criticism by
the republican members Of the sub
committee"
Bundle Of Half-NittS.
Rep. Bland i'm the various state
ments ne has given out since his ar
rival in the United states drew par
ticular attention 20 the disposal OF
property for S400.O0O.OO which he
valued at S1.7OO.OOO.OOO. He neg
lected 10 state that much of this
property cost the United States no
hing. having been captured from
the Germans
4 commission consisting OF eN-
Sen. Hollis OF New Hampshire; Gen.
Charles c. Dawes OF Chicago. and
ex-Judge Parker OF Texas, valued
this property at one billion dollars.
or this amount $500, 100000 worth
was disposed OF 10 other nations. and
the remained sold 10 the French gov
eminent for 100000 under a
blanket contract, the French assum-
ing all American liabilities in con-
nection with the occupation Of more
than 155.0O0 tracts OF land. and also
agreeing 10 feed and generally sup
port all American troops during the
entire time they remained In France.
IL must also be remembered that
much OF the property sold TO the
~ a. IL. D,