The sun., 1908-04-23
The Hon. Eugene Hale's Good Faith
and Honest Intentions.

/
THE Sun finds much to deplore in the
present course of Senator HALE with
regard to the investigation Of bureau
methods in the navy and the fearless
application of correctives TO defects in
the system that are radical and that
ought TO be perceptible now to all i'm
partial observers. In the spring of 1905
Mr.. EUGENE HALE Is more or less Of q
disappointment to us. His great expe-
rience and habits Of independence, not
less than his post as chairman OF Naval
Affairs, make him potentially the great
est agent Of reform where the navy is
concerned; and the efficient reform Of
the navy will render the country patri-
otc service which cannot be overesti-
mated. Mr.. HALE, however, seems TO
prefer at this time TO be a passive
obstacle to reform, and we are very
sorry for it, We scarcely know whether
to attribute his attitude to Incidence, to
good nature under pressure Of social
influences or 10 misconception Of his
duty to the Republican party in a Presi-
dental year. 1t is certainly not due to
any lack Of courage. The Senator from
Maine ia not suspected Of timidity in any
personal or political relation
In a letter printed in THE sun yester-
day that very vigorous and useful critic
Of naval things, Mr. HENRY YREUTRRDAHL
referred to a recent performance Of
Senator HALE's:
On April Q Senator HALE, chairman OF the com.
mttee. presented TO Ihe Senate and had printed In
the Record Csee page 47s) and as a document a
paper, being hearings on the alleged structural
defects In the United States bAttleshlps This
paper was not. az stated by Mr.. HALF, a hear
ing on the alleged defects, hut was simply an edl-
torLl from the Scientific American OF April 4, 1905.
Had Mr.. HALE been ActuAted by the elemen-
tary principles Of fair dealing he would have stated
not only the source Of the article but the name Of
the person who inspired It as well as the name OF
the person who advised him to insert It in the
Record. Mr. HALRs offence is aggravated by the
fact that the Scientific American article In question
repruduces most OF the misleading and erroneous
statements contained In the Converse and Ctpps
report, as well as number Of others that are
highly original perversCns ofthe truth. - Mr.
Hale Is well acquainted With all OF the above de-
tails and he is therefore perfectly aware that the
editorial nom the Scientific American which he has
Inserted In the Record as a hearing Is emlnently
qualified " mislsAd public opinion"
On the face Of things the publication
in the Record OF April seems to war
rant the harshest criticism Of Mr.. HALE
for an abuse Of the privilege TO print.
The unofficial and partisan remarks Of
the Scientific American are spread upon
the journal OF Congress with no other
introduction or explanation than this:
PAPER on UNITED STATES BATTLESHIPs.
MI H,LE-I present paper, being hearings on
the alleged structural defects 10 United states
bGtteshlps. lmove that It be printed 10 the Record
printed ss document and referred to the Com.
mlttes on Naval AnLrs.
There being no objection the paper was re-
t,ned 10 the Committee on Naval Affairs, ordered
TO be printed a. a document. and to be printed In
the RseorJ. as follows
Then follows the entire text Of the