The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-04
DAWES ATTACK
ON WAR CRITICS
1t Expresses the Sentiments
of Most of Those Who
Took Part
NOT AFRAID TO
TELL THE TRUTH
Very Consressmen Who Have Been Crit
icising Extravaganza Complained BIT
terly During War Because of What
They Considered Delay.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Especial Despatch TO The Reformer9
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, Feb T.. When
Charles Grosvenor Dawes told the report
ers that he didn't intend to be a member
Of the cabinet or to go into politics" he
meant what he said but there is good
reason to believe that Mr. Dawes is being
considered for the governorship Of the fed
eIaI reserve board position that is out,
side of the domain of politics.
Mn, Dawes would succeed W. p. G..
Harding, who resigns soon to become the
head of the new SI00,G00,0 600 corporation
being organized to finance foreign trade.
Mr.. Dawes's dramatic defence OF the
American eXpeditionary forces against
charges OF eNtravagant expenditure made
by congressional committees was no sur
prise to those who have known how men
like General Pcrshing and others in the
\. +. f.. have chafed under the fault-tind-
lEg and tiaw-pIellng of investigating COM
mIttecS long after the war was fought.
The general argument of Mr.. Dawes that
many things had to be done on the spur
OF the moment, and in the heat of the
wal, IN order to assure victory by any
means that seemed at the moment avail
able, Is exactly what the army officers
who fought in France have insisted from
the start and while most of them have
been mUHklcd by the orders fOrbiddIng OF
tjccrs Ia discuss matters before congress
unless summoned for that purpose, army
opinion Is sohdly behind Mr.. Dawes Tor
his courageous defense Of the \. +. +.
The outhT~t by Mr.. Dawes before the
congressional committee investigating war
expenditure was impasSIoncd Yet the
former brigaher general minced no words
and has no apology of regrets To offer on
the day after General Per.hing is still
I'M the army and maintains toward cou-
gIeSs Il more temperate attitude, but en-
animation of his testimony from time to
time shows that he shares the chagrin Of
army men generally who rlskcd their lives
and rave everything they could TO secure
victory an the shortest period OF time only
to have their methods picked to pieces
bv Il group of laymGn IN congress.
There has been a consistent attack on
the governments management oil the war
ever since the political campaign OF l92u
started, which was early III that year.
MIR. Dawes is "A Republican and one OF the
Jew who have come to the defense OF the
Democratic administration responsible tor
the conduct OF the war rs "a matter OF
fact Republicans occupied many positions
OF Importance in the war department. and
probably made Just as many mistakes ana
were lust as eNtTavagaut as the Demo
Gratis but the blame has been placed ON
the Democrats and there Is no question
that much of the overwhelming vote in
the last election was due TO some extent
10 the stories Of extravaganza and ineti-
cheney in managing the war.
Mr.. Dawes takes the position that the
making of war is not an efficiency COB
that can be carefully calculated IN adj
vance. and that where human HE Is at
stake there is very little thought OF the
moncv that must he spent to secure vic
torv and end bloodshed, Those who We're
in Washington in the early months OF the
| war and had an opportunity to know what
was going on inside the war department
| which came down ON the head Of Secretary
Baker. when he tried to ne parsimomous'