The Washington herald., 1917-05-25


that have attempted to control
its opinion Is without base in
truth. I did not question any
editorial or quarrel with one. No
reprimand was hlnted or even
dreamed Of While in the Navy
Department yesterday. happened
TO meet Admiral Earle. We spoke
OF the Mongolia's defective shells.
and he cited The Herald editorial
as an example OF incomplete
knowledge in Connection with
highly technical subject urged
upon him, as I have urged upon
all others, the importance of per-
sonal contact with the press as an
aid TO the full understanding that
Is now a national necessity. Ad-
miral Earle assented instantly, and
stated that he would be only too
glad to have the direct relation
established. called up The Her
aid office, and told them of Ad-
miraI Earle's Willingness to be
seen and interviewed whenever any
ordnance matter arose. They ex-
pressed the utmost appreciation,
and thanked me for my efforts in
the matter. These are the facts.
From the outset the policy of this
= committee has been one of CO.
operation, not supervision. l have
assumed the patriotism of the
press and Its eagerness for truth .
and service, and my one effort has
been to open up the business OF
government to public inspection.
Whatever the exact phraseology of
the conversation between Mr.. Creel
and The .Herald-a question which
can be decided only by two men-we
hardly think that Mr.. Creel will deny,
when he gives full reflection to the
matter, that the primary and chief
purpose of that conversation was to
take exception to the editorial in
question.
The Herald did not make the charge
that Mr.. Creel was attempting to con-
troll its policy. 1t merely asked
whether he was trying to do so. We
think he was careless in his reading
of the editorial, to put it mildly.
Mr.. Creel himself cites the editorial
"as an example of incomplete know
ledge in connection with a highly
technical subject" Therefore it was
within his function, as chairman of
the Committee on Public Informa-
ton, to point the road to complete
knowledge. viii Mr.. Creel in the
future continue to call up editors who
write editorials based on incomplete
knowledgeT Are such editorials even
inferentially Objectionable to him or
to the administration
Mr.. Creel, we feel constrained to
say, IS putting the most generous and
general construction on his conversa-
ton with The Herald. This news
paper regarded it differently, and still
does, because Mr.. Creel is the gov
ernmental censor-to-be if censorship
law is passed, and because we feel
that if free and untrammelled dis
cussion of such a tragedy as that of
the Mongolia can be INDUCED in only
by those having a technical know
ledge of such a complex subject as
ordnance, then the newspapers indeed
are in danger.
Complete knowledge of the results
of the Mongolia tragedy is in the
hands of the public. Complete
knowledge of the causes of it are in
the hands of no one, not even ord
nance experts. Newspapers in the
long run are safe only when they
judge by results, and when they criti-
cise on the basis of results.
If Mr.. Creel says he has no inten-
tion of attempting to control the edi-
torial opinion of The Herald, we ac-
cept that statement without reserve
Perhaps it was merely impulsive, mis-
taken zeal on his part, but in these
days of censorship and near-censor-
ship it assuredly was open to miscon-
struction.
The Herald is willing to correct any
errors or misstatements Of fact at
any time, and yesterday morning
printed an interview with Admiral
Earle showing how he regarded the
matter. But right or wrong, sound
or unsound, it must insist upon ex-
pressing editorial opinion without in
reference.