Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
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strides followed. He went to Con.
gress in 1905.
Courageous. able and friendly to the
leaders both of the Republican and
Democratic parties. Representative
Weeks endeared himself to his col
leagues In the House. He took an
Important part In shaping the Aid.
h-Vreeland currency law ~ . MEM
Der OF the banking and currency
committee and was influential IN OBJ
tanning its passage President Wilson
found his advice valuable and often
called him to the White House for
the Federal Reserve act was In the
making. Representative Weeks, mean
while, had become Senator Weeks.
succeeding Winthrop Murray Crane
OF Massachusetts,.
In the Senate, as In the House.
Mr.. Weeks won quick recognition.
His services were rewarded by APP
pointment to important committees
of the body. As q. member OF the
military committee during the World
War, he stanchly supported aggres-
sive war measures regardless Of any
question Of. party politics.
Presidential Candidate.
He served in the Senate until 1919.
The Republican, national conyentiOn
ct Chicago IN 1916 saw In him one Of
the leading candidates for the presi-
Dental y nomination. Twenty-Five
states cast los votes for him. Only
Charles Evans Hughes. the nominee
Of that convention. polled more votes
than he.
between the time Mr.. Weeks rs-
tired from the Senate and his ap-
pointment as Secretary OF War, ne
devoted himself almost exclusively to
affairs Of the Republican party. tax
ing the role Of leader In the presi-
dental campaign Of 1890 and at the
national convention, where he helped
bring about the nomination Of War
rem g. Harding. Al that time ne
was the national cOmmittA eman from
Massachusetts,. Later he was q mem.
her Of the Republican national cam.
paign committee of hve.
m appreciation Of his services and
in RECOGNITION OF his value to the
Government about to be inaugurated.
Mr.. Weeks was one Of the firgt seiec'
lions made by President Hardins
when he was choosing his cabinet.
His was the difiicult and complex task
Of readjusting the military establish.
ment. disposing OF billions Of dollars
worth OF war equipment, adjusting
contractors claims and bringing TO
"a close thousands Of activities Of q
similar nature which his predecessor
had initiated.
Sending Of the Wood Forbes mis-
sion to the Philippine Islands ana the
designation Of Maj. Gen. Wood -
governor general Of the islands WA
one of the first important acts q
Secretary Weeks as head Of the War
Department. s
Fought Army Reduction.
Then came his first light with Con.
gress. It began when Congress voted
to reduce the Army from $50, 900 to
Isl. 900 enlisted strength and CON
tinued until the Legislators finally cut
the size Of the Regular establishment
to 126, 900. Gen. Rershing had re.
turned from France and. been created
general of the Armies. After Secre.
tary weeks took once PerShing be.
came chief or stan and stood side
by side with his chief IN the fight,
hut to no avail:
ii was during this controversy witt,
CONGRESS that Secretary Weeks nrst
revealed the policy Of Army adminin.
trati0n which prevailed throughout his
tenure Of ONCE.
s'The great trouble with most Army
men, he said, ''is that they are apt
to lose the human View Of AFFAIRS.
we must demoeratize our Army ae
much as possible and pOpularize the
service, interesting the public In Is
work and Impress upon II the reces,
sity 81 having an Army well ofsicered
and well trained for any emergency
Never afterward did the Secretary
swerve from this standard nor alter
his opinion that 10000 men. ex
elusive Of commissioned personnel
were needed for the national protec
| ton. although he accepted the con
gressinoaI edict III good grace and
HAD tO again reOrganix6 the Army
| this time to lit the 1875. 900 strength
on one occasion. ii 1922 he deliv
sred an address IN Cleveland. art
soundly denounced Congress, stating
| among Other things his belief thai
| e was s'af. itg lowest ebb Ok efficiency.
| The utteras1ce was that of b Cablnei
Dfilcer and former member bE the Sen
ate and the House, ana ~ such :