Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-25
NlEFFICIENCY in
WARS CONDUCT.
SAYS PENROSE
Pennsylvania Senator Is Sup
ported By Mr.. Lodge
in Debate

Washington, D. c., July 25.-An
attack by Senator Boies Penrose on
the committee on public information
for its story of the submarine en-
counter with American troop ships
and for ather things caused a row in
the Senate this afternoon and one of
the most stormy debates of the pres
ent session of Congress. Senators
questioned each others motives, and
harsh words including 'copperhead-
ism" were used.
Senator Penrose started the trouble
by calling up the resolution he OF
1ered several days ago directing an
investigation of the committee on
public information. He vigorously
assailed the committee. censor so
George Creel and Secretary OF the
Navy Daniels. Gradually the debate
drifted into a general discussion of
the administration and its activities.
Il want TO deny for the last time.
said Senator Penrose. that l am at
tacking anybody. But I do say that
in my opinion the administration OF
both the Navy and War Departments
is marked by indecision and IN
efficiency which will rapidly become,
at the present rate. a public scam
dal, and I propose to have 1t in
vestigated at the earliest possible
moment"
Defended Administration
Rushing to the defense of the ad-
nlinistration, Senator James. OF Ken
lucky, let loose a few big guns
against Penrose and Senator Lodge,
who Joined in the discussion. He
referred TO their criticism as cop
perheadism" and "sniping and
warned them that the American
people would countenance no such
tactics.
Does the senator from Kentucky
use the word 'copperheadism ad-
visedly?" inquired Senator Nads-
worth, of New York.
Il use the word as I understand
it." replied James.
There is only one understanding
of what the word 'copperhead' means
in American history said Mr.. Wads-
worth.
Senator Penrose, in supporting his
resolution. criticised Creel for edit
ing the Presidents recent address to
the coal operators of the country and
found fault with his account of the
submarine attack. He called atten-
ton to the great discrepancy between
Creels account and the reports sent
by the Associated Press and con-
tinued:
TT seems that this is trifling very
Seriously with the information which
the American people are entitled 10
receive. and any person who is re-
sponsible for this kind of publicity
should we'll be investigated by the
Senate or by some committee or the
Senate. Mr.. Creel is not an ordinary
newspaper writer in the sense OF
working for private parties. He Is
an official of the government and
should be held to account
Attack On Secretary
In opposing the Penrose resolution
Senator James declared that this was
in reality an attack upon the Secre-
tary of the Navy. In this Senator
Lodge practically agreed with him.
THAT is the point wanted to
make. and I did not want any shift
ing of the ISSUE Senator James re-
torted.
well. the senator need not fear
that 1 shall shift the issue replied
Senator Lodge. with heat.
Senator James said the purpose OF
the resolution was an attack upon
the Secretary OF the Navy and that
there was no use trying to conceal 1t.
Does the senator mean to state
that l, as a member of this body and
a senator from Pennsylvania, have
no right to criticise the Secretary of
the Navy or any other government
oGncial that I choose TO criticlse
asked Senator Penrose.
The senator has a perfect right
to attack him, but when he does IT
he must do it in the open" Senator
James declared.
Senator Penrose said he was doing
it in the open and Senator James
replied that he was doing it cour-
ageously. but that Senator Lodge was
trying TO make the attack appear To
bC against Creel. whereas 1t was
against Secretary Daniels.
1t does not require courage to at
tack the Secretary of the Navy in
terposed Senator Penrose.
Reviews "Sea Battle"
Senator Penrose charged that the
Democrats apparently intend to sup
press all inquiry relative to the con-
duct of the war and Senator James
declared that the reason for the Pen
rose inquiry was that Creel had pub
lished a speech of the President
seeking to get cheaper coal for the
American people
Senator Penrose then reviewed the
various accounts of the Pershing eX-
pedition's voyage and encounter with
the submarines. He said that had
the transports been attacked and sew
eral hundred or several thousand SOL
diers killed. this spirit of hypo-
critical criticism would have been
on the floor OF the Senate with a
demand to investigate the Secretary
OF the Navy because of his in
efficiency in sending the troops
abroad"
Senator Penrose declared that
every newspaper correspondent in
Washington, every visiting news
paper man and business man having
any business dealings with War and
Navy Departments will agree with
him as to the inefficiency of these
departments.
Il do not believe there is any
truth in that statement" was Sem
ator James blunt reply. 'I hope the
senator acting in his official capacity
is not willing to come and attack the
government of his country merely
upon the rumor of newspaper corre-
spondents that has not been given to
the public. What would you cali
that, is it copperheadism? Is it snip
ing? No. it does not rise to the
dignity nor the danger of either. It
is merely Penrose-ing."
Such an attempt to make peanut
politics as has been made by the
senator from Pennsylvania. Mr.. Pen
rose, will not affect the public in the
slightest degree"
After two hours hot debate no ac-
ton was taken on Mr.. Penrose's reso-
luton. which went to the Senate
calendar. and to be called up again
will require a majority vote. Many
Democrats to-day indicated their op-
position to it.
4 M-a