Evening journal., 1920-11-29
WHAT'S TIE Use?

NwosT Dsawareans no doubt ave noticed that Secre-
IVA tary Of War Baker has issued blanket invitation
every citRn having knowledge Of ANY rreguarty or
misconduct on the part any agent employe officer
the War Department to submit such evidence for in
vestgaton He has pledged thorough inquiry into every
accusation brought 10 the attention Of his department
Mr. Bakers invitation provoked by The articles which
have running in the New York Herald for time
past with regard TO the questionable manner Of dsposns
OF surplus stocks by the War Department by which
alleged that certain persons ION the inside" OF the
War Department have been harvesting colossal profits
in buying stocks from the department at ridcuously
low prices and in some instances credit Of a very
nature and selling those stocks to the public at
proieer prices after which, in the debt OF the
purchasers to the War Department is quidated
II is doubtful II anyone will take the trouble 10 meet
Mr.. Bakers challenge The arplane scandal has not
been forgotten Justice Hughes made exhaustive
report that subject having been requested to do
by President Wilson He entered at great length into the
relationship of Col e. A. Deeds OF Mr. Coxs campaign
advisers, with the aircraft program which scandalized
nve continents and paragraph OF his General
clusions and Recommendations" he declared
There certain acts shown not only highly improper
IN themselves but OF especial significance which should
lead 10 disciplinary The evidence with respect
10 Colonel Edward A. Deeds should presented 10 the
Secretary Of War 70 the end that Col Deeds may be
tried by courmatal under articles and 96 Of the Ar
toes Of War for his conduct ~ acting as confidential
adviser Of his former business associate H. E. Talbot OF
the Dayton Wright Airplsne Co. and In conveying in
formation to Mr. Talbot In an improper manner with
respect TO the transaction o business between that com
pany and the division OF the Signal Corps OF VII ch Col
Deeds was the head and 2 in giving TO the representa-
tives Of the Committee Public Information false and
misleading statement with respect to the progress OF air
craft production for the purpose publication with the
authority Of the Secretary OF War"
Paragraph stated The absence OF proper appreciation
Of the obvious improperly OF transactions by governmen.
officers and agents with firms or corporations in vhicn
hey Interested compels the conclusion that puhc
policy demands that the statutory provisions bearing
upon this subject should be strictly enforced Il Is there
fore recommended that the officers found to have had
Transactions behalf OF the government with oornora
lions in the pecunary profits OF VII ch they had An in
teresi should be prosecuted under Section 4 OF the Cr
nal Code"
Was there anything done about it9 Not at ALL
Following the report Secretary Baker issued an inde
pendent report in which he neatly whitewashed himself
and everyone connected with the arpana scandal.
Tom Sawyer could not have welded the br7isb mors
efficiently. -D'''
Ano mat was accepted by the Administration and the
.Dsmocrahc party as complete vndcstion
NF Baker would do the same thing again with an,
er Hresuariies which might be brought 10 hi. atten
iion, 50 what Is The use9 us ''''"-