Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1918 — SENATOR REPLIES TO THE PRESIDENT [ARTICLE]

SENATOR REPLIES TO THE PRESIDENT

Chamberlain Blames War Department fer Epidemics in Army Camps. SAYS, “TIME NATION KNEW” Lawmaker In Address to Senate Stands by Charges of Gross Ineffi- 1 ciency in Conduct of the War —Soldiers Died Needlessly. Washington, Jan. 25.—After speaking nearly three hours Senator Chamberlain concluded wlljt a plea that he was onfy doing Ills duty in arousing the country to its danger and that he would support the president, although “grossly maligned.” Senator Kirby of Arkansas, a Democrat, took up a reply. His veracity challenged by President Wilson, Senator Chamberlain, a Democrat, chairman of the senate committee on military affairs, replied to President Wilson’s attack upon his criticism of the administration’s conduct of the war. Before a senate and crowded galleries that sat in Intent silence, following each word uttered, Chairman Chamberlain said that he believed the time had come when the country should hear the truth and judge not between the president and himself nor any others as individuals, but between policies which affect personal safety in this war of every fighting man as well as that of the nation, its institutions and civilization in general. War Department and Epidemics. The Oregon senator said he Would show that the deaths of the hundreds and thousands of men at cantonments and camps were due to the war department and that “all epidemics could have been prevented if the war department had'been effective.” “This information comes right from the men who are on the ground. They know what they are talking about.” “Now that my truthfulness has been questioned,” he continued, “I feel it my duty to tell the country something I might not have told It under ordinary circumstances. I do it as a man who loves his country best of all and-who would willingly give his life for it. I do it fearlessly as an American citizen who desires to help and not to hinder.” Warned Against Overcrowding. Senator Chamberlain referred to the warnings given by Major General Greble, commander at Camp Bowie, Tex.,.last summer against overcrowding men in tents. General Gorgas’ report, he continued, showed overcrowding in virtually every camp, and he asserted that the surgeon general, of eminent reputation, had not been consulted regarding cantonment locations. Shows Wilson Was Consulted. Senator Chamberlain read to the senate a letter received from President Wilson opposing the creation of a minister of munitions. He said he did this to counteract the president’s charge that he had not been consulted regarding proposed legislation to be offered In congress. Senator Chamberlain opened his defense by stating that, if the president relied for the truth as to conditions in the war department upon the same officials who testified before the senate committee on military affairs, he did not know the truth because they had shown they did not themselves know it. The senator acquitted Secretary Baker and his aids of any attempt at deception. He excused them on the ground that, burdened with details as they are, they could not know all the facts or even know some of them all the time. Letter From Dead Soldier’s Father. Senate and galleries were moved to expressions of emotion as Senator Chamberlain read a letter to Senator Wadsworth. The writer, whose name was not given, said he. was notified through friends that his son was ill six days after he had been taken to ‘ the camp hospital. He was first permitted to see the boy through a win- j dow and the first sight appalled him.’ The room and bed were filthy, he wrote, and the patient had not been batlied for eight days. His requests for a nurse or to permit himself to aid his son were refused, the writer stated, but finally he was told he might provide clean clothes. When he returned his son’s face and hands had' been washed, but still were dirty. The next day he returned again as an attendant was trying to give the patient water from a bowl. When the father Intervened the attendant said, “I guess I better get a funnel,” and actually with a paper funnel. The father stopped that and suggested a spoon. Fifteen minutes later the boy died. At headquarters. of the camp he was told that he might have his son’s body that night. Having provided himself with a pass to the hospital, he did not knock when he entered, but as he tried to open the door it struck a heavy object. It was his son’s body and the door had struck the head. “I want to arouse the country and every mother and father to write to the president of the United States and appeal, not in a spirit of revenge, but in order that the example of a beloved ■qw, brother or a husband may arouse the country to save the lives of our .soldiers,” Chamberlain deJie. finished reading the W. „.. ' . . ' '