The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-02
DEMAND FRANK
EXPLANATION Of
THAT POSTSCRIPT
No Straight Answer Yet to
Charge Made by Senator
Lodge.
IT'S PUBLIC BUSINESS
And the Public is Entitled
to Know All About
49,. =.
IT'S PUBLIC BUSINESS

Especial Dispatch to West virginian>
NEW YORK, Nov. 2.-"1t is time for
frankness and honesty, and not for
technical denials and conccalment,"
said William r. Wilcox, chairman OF
the Republican National committee, to.
day. in discussing the maze OF contra.
dictory statements evoked from differ.
cnt Democrats in high official position
by the speech Of Senator Lodge regard
ing the so.called postscript" reported
| to have been added by the President to
the Lusitania note SO as to draw its
teeth and let Germany understand that
1t was really intended for home con.
sumption"
ut must be evident to every one
now" continued Mr.. Wilcox, that
something OF seriously important ma.
ture was written or done or approved
by the President in that connection.
One of Senator Lodges informants
describes the additional writing as q
postscript The President declares
that no postscript was written. The
Presidents sticking for exact use OF
words. makes 1t necessary for me to
ask. what was written, II not post
| script? What was il. part of the orig.
inal draft. an amendment suggested
! afterwards. a supplemental instruc.
surely was something.
THE President asserts that. the
public is in possession OF everything
that was said to the German govern
ment. So far as know M one has
commended to the contrary. It Is not
question of what was sent TO the Ger.
man government but of what 1t was
proposed to do to the note or to send
to Gerard. The President denies a
charge that was never made.
MIR. Breckenridge, cited as author.
ity by the informant OF Senator Lodge,
cries. 'scoundrel and sneak and
bursts into stump speech in support
Of MIR. Wilson, but does not deny that
he told the very story related to Sena.
i2r Lodge.
MIR. Tumulty, who was also report.
cd to have been active in the effort
to prevent the writing. whatever II
, was. from becoming effective, makes
similarly technical and unconvinc.
ing denial. Secretary Houston denies
that he threatened to resign, but there
the force Of his denial ends, and so II
goes. Meanwhile, Mr.. Garrison. who
was secretary Of war at. the time, and
is understood to have been fully in.
formed of all that went on, main tains
complete silence. And MIR. Burleson
and Mr.. Lansing, who were reported
in the account that comes from Mr..
Warren. to have been involved in the
transaction, are not furnishing any
help to the public In reaching full
understanding of the matter.
Now, say that this was all the pub
lies business. and it is of the highest
importance that the public know how
its business was conducted. 1t Is time
for frankness and sincerity to mani
fest themselves. and no time for tech.
nical denials and concealment.
Some action was certainly taker
at that time with some such intent as
reported Why does not the President
come forward frankly and take the
people into his confidence? Why docs
he content himself with mere tech.
nical denial Of charges some of which
were never mauc? Why does he not
make public the whole transaction and
let the people have the full and com.
plete information to which they are
absolutely entitled about their own
business?
THE President is now appealing to
the electorate for reelection al mark
Of national confidence and approval
OF his conduct Of national affairs. 1t
is of supreme importance that ne shall
justify the confidence he asks by tell.
ing the whole truth about this critical
affair without technicalities Of lim!.
tations."