The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-12-07
CLEAN SWEEP
SHOULD BE MADE

CAhO11D D1
Almost incredible waste and ex-
travagance marked the training,
equipping and maintaining of the
United States army in France. 1t all
took place under the eye Of Secretary
Of War Baker and otner appointees
of President Wilson. The unspeak-
able mess in the Shipping Board oc-
Cured under the sups, vision Of men
whom Mr.. Wilson had selected to
look after the In 3rests Of the mer-
chant marine. The impotence OF the
Department of Justice to bring relief
to a country suffering from profteer-
ing, radicalism, and open defiance OF
law, Is notorious.
Again, Mr.. Wilson's appointees
must be held responsible. The list
might be heightened to include other
costly burdens tina. the people have
been compelled to endure because OF
men whom Mr.. Wilson placed in re-
sponsible positions and kept there
after their incompetency had been
proven.
Gross mismanagement OF public
trusts by Wilson a%ppointees was one
of the principal use that rolled up
the huge majorities against Wilson
ism last November. An explicit COM
mand came from the people to put
new men in charge Of affairs at Wash
ington, whose concern for the public
welfare would be paramount. A mar
was elected to the presidency who,
the voters believed. would make ap-
continents of that character.
The Senate has before 1t thousands
of so-called recess appointments made
by the President - appointments to
vacancies occurring since the ad-
journment Of the last session on June
5 Under the Constitution, all civil
appointees In that long list AUTO
matically 60 out of Office at the close
of Congress on March 4. unless they
receive confirmation by the Senate
before that date. Included In the list
are several new members of the
Shipping Board.
The country has nc reason to be-
that they are Of a higher char
than those other selections of
Wilson under whom enormous
were perpetuated. 1t Is an
nouncri by Mr.. Tumulty that the
President has offered him the chief
justiceship of the Court of Customs
Appeals, a life job, at $4,000 a year.
What his qualifications are for the
position is not manifest. Fifteen
thousand promotions have been made
by the President among officers of the
regular army. 1t Is openly charged
that favoritism Is apparent in many
of the selections.
Now, what Is the lesson to be
learned from all this? Would not the
United States be grossly recreant to
the mandate of the people at the polls
If it permitted these Wilson appoin-
tees to be confirmed? The country
has decreed that on March 4 Wilson
ism shall end, and is it not the plain
duty of the Senate to make that de-
cree a reality? If these appointments
are confirmed it will mean that the
baleful influence of wisconsin will
be continued through a period OF
years. President Harding would en-
ter upon his administration with a
handicap that he could never shake
off. He would be forced to deal
through agencies established by his
predecessor, owing no allegiance to
him, and whose treachery might at
any moment bring disaster upon his
policies.
The long list of army promotions
is hardly less important than the
Wilson civil appointments. The off,
GERS in high command have it In their
power to bring success or failure to
a military program for which the
Republican party Is responsible. A
mar promoted should first receive
the Endorsement OF President Hard
ing, who is to be the commander-in-
chief of the army for the next four
years. He will be denied the right
of passing upon his subordinates II
the selections which President Wilson
has made shall receive the approval
of the Senate.