The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-29

HITSAT WILSON'S
PUBLICITY PLAN
Senate Then Passes His
Resolution to Probe Mon
gOlia Shell Accident.
CHAMBER is UNANIMOUS
Jersey Senator Reminds 1t of
Presidents "Pitiless'' Ex-
p0surc Promise.
CHAMBER is UNANIMOUS

wAsHISoroN. May ss.-The Senate
passed to-day without opposition the
Frelinghuysen resolution providing for
a searching investigation Of the recent
accident aboard the Mongolia through
the rebound OF the brass tailpiece of a
six inch shell. The Senate amended thA
resolution to provide that the investiga-
tion he conducted by the COMMITTEES on
Naval Affairs instead OF by the special
committee suggested In FrelinghuysenA
original resolution.
Speaking In favor of the most drastic
inquiry into the circumstances OF The
deaths Of the two women nurSsA the
first Americans to lose thoir lives in Ve
war with Germany. Senator Frs,ing-
buysen said:
This is a war OF the American peo-
pie and every American ciuxss 10 called
upon or will be called upon to render
the highest degree OF servb,e Of which
he or she is capable toward the tan sue
cessful issue OF this supreme struggle.
Such being the case. everS oltisen % ths
republic has the right - know. an6 that
righ' ! sustain. every phase OF national
development sionA the line OF OFFENSIVE
and defenSve servfcs unless S-ch pub
licity is reasonably certain - prejudice
the success Of our anna
"PitiIess Publicity" Promise,
Then Senator Frellnghuysen took oc.
CASTOR to refer tos the promise Of che
President. made in the carly days Of
the nrst Administration. tnat pitiless
publicity should mark ever3 mo = -
the Government under his direction.
Moe than once this dooey1ne has been
enunciateA according TO Senator FIRE.
linghuysen. who. while adsajtting that
there were many matters postAin'ng to
the. military and naval ssrs'cgy OF the
United States :,at shs uid be KEEP, secret
demanded that the public ahouiA have
every bit OF really oecessary iHforna uon
which did not serve to se!p she enemies
Of the hst:oA Senator Fre,inghuyser
continued
But I denounce that mAwkash and
stupid doctrine that the peop,s Of Amer
lea must be kept 10 totA ignorance OF
every nnateria fan bearing upos tho
preparation os war and the prosecution
OF II. when every loyal citizen OF the
nation. with us brcssr ablaze with pa
'riotic ardor, 10 awaiting. aisrt. vigtlant
and eypectant. for some Esm OF news
which will keep his soul on fire and his
| enthusiasm UP TO the highest possibly
pitch.
During the first year Of this great
world war. the British nation 'muddled'
along. ineffective. non-progrsesive. de-
mo-aiized. always on the defensive. To-
day she IL tho dominant power among
the continental nations and with the
mate-in aid OF America VIII eventually
save humanity and civilization from the
despotism which the mad monarch OF
Central Europe seeks to superimpose
up0u the world.
Praises NOrthcli6e's Papers.
"And what has brought about this
remarkable trsnsforma, ion? Nothing
save the 'pitiiess publicity OF the great
newspa pers controlled by Lord North
cliffe. which. almost unalded and against
the protests OF thousands of reactionary
EnRlishmen, overturned cabinets, evolved
order from chaos and placed the des-
tinies Of the British nation. and OF the
civilized world. In the keeping of the
| greatest OF modern Europeans, LLOYD
George.
= I'VE must not lose sight of the SUI
premc fact that we Americans are upon
the outer edge of the most stupendous
|
We will soon be involved In the awful
mas OF actual warfare. Of character
which human ingenuity cannot foresee
and can cope with only by the exercise
OF extraordinary application and Ell.
cheney"
Recalling that within two weeks I'VE
American aviators have gone to their
deaths through accidents Of one kind or
another Senator Frelnghuysen pleaded
for more information for tho public with
regard to all alleged accidents. The
Mongolia incident, he said. constituted q
pitiful chapter TO the record OF acci-
dents.
MY sole purpose In Offering this reso-
lution." continued Senator Frellnghuy-
sen. rs to learn just hoA these acct
dents occurred. not with View OF pun
ishing any one or to cast any aspersions
upon any oficial or any department
My one object Ls to prevent such acci-
dents hereafter. ! am sure every Sena-
tor on the floor will agree with me that
this is a duty we owe the $50. 900 young
men we have called into the service 10
uphold the prestige Of our navy and
to honor the nation.
l. Can Do No Harm.
Upon this point publicity can do no
harm II may do much good for It may
save many precious human lives. ] feel
convinced. Mr.. President. that the coun-
try demands this information and call
upon Senators upon both sides OF the
chamber TO support this resolution, which
is presented In no partisan or hyper.
critical spirit, but solely for the public
good.
Let US stand by the President in his
demand for 'pitiless publicity We
never will win this war by supine Sc
cretiveness."
In asking that his amendment pro.
yidInR for reference to the Naval Com.