Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1919 — WHAT THE “INVESTIGATIONS” SHOW [ARTICLE]

WHAT THE “INVESTIGATIONS” SHOW

Though the spirit which conceived and the methods which have characterized the Republican “investigations” into the conduct of the war merited the condemnation they have received even from organs of the g. o. p., these partisan scrutinies of Democratic administration , have not bdfen devoid of value. They have completely confuted the Republican, charges that there was crookedness, corruption or incompetence among those in high places. Moreover, these in■quirles have demonstrated that the

Republicans undertook them not so much to discover and punish wrongdoing as to find material for the next presidential campaign. These two things have been made abundantly evident to the people of the country. They have become clear also to the shrewder of Republican leaders, who are now manifesting a desire to drop the proceedings and seek other and better issues.

The Democrats, on their part, have never sought refuge in any denial that great sums of money were spent; Ijut'- have constantly conceded that suck would be found as an inseparable by-product of the stress ana J pressure under which the country labored to enter the war and finish it quickly and decisively. The administration had the choice between two courses when this country declared war against Germany in April, 1917. There was the option of moving slowly and cautiously, to prevent loss of money, but with an inevitable sacrifice of more precious time; or of making haste at the risk of waste. Economy of money purchased at the expense of delay would have cost thousands of lives and perhaps victory itself. If the administration had elected to economize with dollars while it postponed effective participation in the conflict; if Germany had crushed the allies while we haggled over expenses, then indeed the Republicans would have been able to bring an indictment, against Democratic management of the war.