Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-06-27
Champ Clark Scores Republican
Carpers.

1t is seldom nowadays that Republican
member of the National House Of Repre-
sentatives makes any motion without at
tempting some sort of reflection on the
Democratic Administration. The passing
of resolution for a special committee to
investigate American war expenditures
was an example. Champ Clark, of Mis-
souri,, former Speaker and Democratic floor
leader. tired of the constant nagging and
amid applause from both sides of the
chamber. expressed himself recently.
1--WE all went into this war to win it,
and am going to take just minute to tell
you what think about this whole bust
ness" said he. 1T will be constantly
bobbing up in this Congress as to what
happened and what did not happen.
want to say incidently that am growing
exceedingly weary Of so many gentlemen
devotine so much time to nagging and
criticisine. whether they know what they
are talking about or not, and If they do
not quit II am going to get enough time
some day to dress off the whole crowd Of
naggers.
1.-THE truth is that we got into a stupen-
dous Job in that war. and it was sprung
suddenly. do not believe that S per
cent of the people in the United States
believed that we were going to get into
that war until we were in it. They kept
hoping that we would be able to keep out
Of it; and we did everything that the Ger
mans thought we could not do. and if they
had believed we could do it they never
would have dragged us in. That was to
raise a great army, drill it and send it
across the sea in time to help give them
a whaling. That is what was the matter
with them, and II were to live 1000 years
and studied about it all the time would
never be able to find out why they did
not know that, il we wanted to. we could
raise an army Of 100000 men and put
them in the field. and that. practically.
our material resources are illimitable.
"A vast amount Of money was spent.
We spent the greatest sum that was ever
spent by any nation since the world be-
aan-40 or so billions-and we had to do
everything at once. We were all as green
as Rourds about war. | tell you what |
believe will be found out when this is all
investigated, and that is that there was
some extravasance, good deal Of it,
drowning out of the hurry with which we
did things and the size Of the undertaking.
and that incompetents were found here
and there.
There were good many profiteers and
| wish that every one was in the peniten-
tiary. and do not care whether he is
biz or little fellow | would not be at all
surprised IL somewhere along the line they
found some absolute dishonesty, some plain
stealing-not much, but some, by under
lings. II has been that way in every war
we ever had. War furnishes opportunity
for all sorts Of gouging and profteering.
Nevertheless. taken altogether, our achieve
ment in conducting the war is splendid,
magnificent. glorious.
ut was that way in the Civil War; il
was that way even in the brief war with
Spain. Those Of US who were here then
know that the very same complaints were
made, and some Of them were ascertained
10 be true. What we want. and suppose
what you Republicans want. is fair deal
in this examination; but my suggestion
is that everybody quit nasgins and criti-
;ising and lampooning until we ascertain !