Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-27
f,ssuiat'0H Eyeuina Sestsfdsy asSds 144O6
The Scheme Win Fail.

Another subcommittee of the select
committee on war expenditures of the
House of Representatives. at Washing
ton il about to bring in a report IN another
effort to make capital for the approaching
national political campaign. The report
of the Frear subcommittee on aircraft
having been made public. printed and
circulated throughout the country at gov
ernnent expense, although II failed TO
make a single recommendation or sug-
rest any action of any sort. has served its
purpose, and now the Graham sub-com-
mittee on ordnance will bring in its report
in the next week or two.
As the Prear committee sought TO make
a target out of John d. Ryan, former as
sistant Secretary of War and director OF
aircraft, employing only insinuation and
innuendo In an attempt to reflect upon
his patriotic service, the Graham COM
nittee has selected Bernard Nj. Baruch.
chairman of the War Industries Board, rs
the object of it's political malice, and will
strive TO open the way for criticism Of the
President for Mr.. Baruch's appointment.
Many of the charges of extravaganza,
wasteful methods, discriminatory prac-
tices. etc, the committee majority will
talk about; il will attempt to trace back
10 the War Industries Board, particular
" in the construction Of emergency war
Industry plants. In its efforts to get
something on Mr.. Baruch, MIR. Gra-
hams committee summoned him twice.
MIR. Baruch accepted responsibility for
the work of the board, and showed pride
in it's accomplishments. and the way in
which they had been achieved.
The majority members Of the sub-com-
mittee clearly indicated, upon the last
appearance of Mr.. Baruch. their purpose
10 attempt to FIX responsibility upon HIM
for a great MANY war activities, andindeed
indicated that they would say that he
was responsible for several legislative
cnactmcnts VIII ch Congress had written.
Among other things. they inquired I he
wa. responsible for the Daylight Saving
Law. the Prohibition Amendment. price
h1ing, and appointment OF Herbert Z.
Hoover as Food Administrator, and other
things OF Mr. Hoover's selection, Mr..
Baruch said he did not recommend Mr..
Hoover TO the President, but regretted
be could not claim credit for so doing
Regardless Of what patriotic service
MIR. Baruch and those associated with
him many have rendered the country, the
majority report will attack them, because
the Republican steering committee"
has ordered these investigating commit
tees to bring in their reports and to have
therein something on which TO hang
charges To be used in the approaching
Presidential campaign.
The committee minority report will
be made by Representative Finis J. Gar
rett, Democrat, of Tennessee. Inciden-
tally. this is the subcommittee whose
majority members recently went ahead
with hearings while Mr.. Garrett was alb /
sent on official business, IN direct viola I
ton of a pledge given to MIR. Garrett. |
it thus gave the minority member no op- |
portunity to examine witnesses and gave |
he majority members opportunity to |
put in the record just such matters as they |
wished And so this farce of investiga-
tion. this scheme to discount, for partisan
benefit. the mighty accomplishments of |
our country in the Great War, goes on. /
But it viii fail. miserably fail, because It /
is devoid of merit and principle and is
employed to serve only mean and dis
creditable ends.