Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-11
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER IL, 1920
MAY Be Largely Discounted.

Tho onIv surprising feature OF the
revelation" Of great graft IN connection
with the operations of the Emergency fIeet
CORPORATION made by two employees oil the
esrroration and submitted to the commit
teA Of the House of Representatives. that
has been conducting an investigation lhpo
war expenditures for more than year, Is
that IL was not made public few weeks
sooner Itvould have been welcome grst
70 the partisan Republican party miii, ana
no doubt highly welcome as supplement
20 the many rabid charges made during
the campaign against the entire war
,,rcratiops Of the Wilson administration.
And even though it appears after the
election. the public will be justified IN
,cceptingit with liberal discount. For II
sentirelv unofficial and ex parte-
When the conditions that convulsed the
.ntire country after our entrance upon the
war field in Europe are considered, the
only surprise is that there should have been
o. little dishonesty and selfish manlpuia-
tion in the enormous operations that were
launched Haste was essential ana there
was a tremendous pressure. IRON De
ginning 10 end. There was no room for the
exercise OF careful economy. The IN
sstent demand was for war results, and
they were achieved most magnihcentiy.
All the rest OF the world stood amazed at
,hc celeritv and success that attended our
feyerish operations Germany was soon
brought TO her knees by their effective
ness
For more than year partisan Re
pubhcan committee OF the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. has been deiving into the
mass Of enormous war expenditures, IN the
hope Of finding material for campaign
canital. but in vain. Extravaganza was
not denied; il could not be avoided IN the
face Of the enormous pressure for results.
Bot not a single case Of pilferlng or other
actual dishonesty was revealed b TINS
psrtisan smelling" agency. Now there
comes belated report, supplied by two
etnploycs of the Emergency Fleet oor-
noration. and II is very uncertain how these
allegations will stand the test Of dIssec-
ton under inquiry and cross examination
The Democratic national adminlstra-
tion can well afford TO regard with COM
placencv all charges Of an evil character
that nav be brought in connection wlthlt
war operations 1t accomplished wonders
in an incredibly short time. 1t sent two
millions of good fighting men abroad, and
ended the war by the defeat Of Germany
in short order. Our navy was effective
against the German undersea terror. And
a. well were our brave fighters cared for,
that those who survived the terrible risks
of combat and emerged unwounded were
returned 10 their homes IN better physical
condition than when they were sent forth.
All the world save Jealous, vindictive par
tisans here at home gave splendid appre-
citation 10 these magnificent accomplish
ments. which will GO on permanent record
as the most brilliant chapter of American
history.
Compare this inspiring accomplish
ment with the record of inefficiency, dis
honesty and stupidity that marked our
conduct of the miserable little war with
Spain, a score or more years ago, under
Republican national administration. Re-
call to mind the inability to handle
small body of troops, the fatally fever
stricken encampments the filthy commits
.ary, with its rotten "Alger beef" that
poisoned and sickened our soldiers. What
infinite gall on the part of partisan ag-
gregation that was guilty Of such noun
famous profigacy, dishonesty and rank
failure to now cavil and rage at the few
real shortcomings that attended our
mighty accomplishments during our act
i've part in the war for humanity.