New-York tribune., 1918-04-10
Remove Creel.
Is Demand
In Congress
Penrose Offers Amendment
to Sedihon Bill to Force
His Dismissal
[Staf Correspondence |

LOCHU COfVSSpUHQSNrc
WASHINGTON, April 9.-Pridc grow
Ing out of the unpreparedness of
America to play part in the war when
she entered it, as expressed in pub
lie speech by George Crcel, chairman
of the Committee on Public Informa-
ton. aroused resentment in both Sen
ate and House to-day.
Representative Longworth, of Ohio,
son-in-law of Colonel Roosevelt, said
the only people abroad who would share
in this pride we're Hindenburg, Luden-
dorff and the Junkcrs. and at home the
! /. W. WIS and Bolsheviki
In the Senate Mr.. Pcnrose proposed
an amendment to the espionage bill
providing that no one who violated its
provisions should be permitted to hold
public office. and if the offender already
held Office he should be dismissed.
Penrose's Amendment
Following is the amendment offered
by Senator Penrose:
"No person who has committed any
one of the offences described in the act
shall be eligible for Office, and if such
person is now holding office under the
United States he shall be discharged
therefrom upon his guilt being declared
| BY the head of the department in which
he is employed"
Senator Penrose said it is notorious
that there are persons holding public
offices in Washington who are of
"strong pro-German leanings and who
have written scurrilous reflections and
reasonable articles on the Constitution
of the United States
81 do not see why" Mr.. Penrose con-
tinued, 1--WE should permit men like Mr..
Creel, for instance, whose scurrilous
and defamatory utter ances on the Con-
stitution Of the United States were read
in this body the other day, to be hold
ing an Office and publishing publicity
chronicle, when he is smeared all over
with treason.
81 only offer the amendment TO i'm
press on executive heads of the govern
! mont the fact that this is one of the
phases of the qualifications of appli-
cants for Office which ought to be con-
sidered."
'Its inclusion in the law would add
moral strength to the head of de-
partment," here interposed Senator
Sherman.
Eyes" remarked Senator Penrose, in
conclusion, 81 should think so. And it
F. also would make a considerable breach
in the ranks of the officeholders.
Johnson Also Attacks Creel
81 read this morning" said Senator
Johnson, of California, "the language
Of the distinguished gentleman who
presdes over the Bureau of Public In
formation, George Creel. | read he
stated. as has been adverted to be-
fore, that he thanked God this nation
was not prepared for war when we
entered the war year ago can
imagine, and you may Imagine. too, the
answer of the fathers and the mothers
Of the land whose sons have gone over
the sea to-day and are in the trenches
of France with SIX brief months Of
preparation against lifetime of prep
araton of their foes.
"These fathers and mothers answer
just as you and I, | am sure, answer
this remarkable utterance of duly
constituted authority of the United
States We answer him. If you thank
God that our boys were unprepared
when they entered this war, we feel
you are not fit at this particular time
| to participate in the prosecution Of this
war in any regard.
( "Now, the pith and point. as applied
to this bill, is what? Yesterday a
duly constituted authority of the
! United States government thanked God
we were not prepared year ago.
Longworth Joins in Attack
Representative Longworth read the
following from Mr. Creel's speech:
81 will be proud to my dying day
; that my country was inadequately pre-
pared when it entered the conflict. TO
| have been prepared would have given
! the lie to everything we ourselves be-
lieved in and to our se1f-avowcd posi-
ton before the world
! 'I ask you to let that sink into your
minds for moment" said Mr.. Long
worth. II never thought the day would
come when man who calls himself an
American citizen, particularly when he
holds a position Of high Importance IN
this government, would publicly pro-
claim such sentiments as that"
"Who vas it said that damnable
thng?" asked Representative Sloan, of
Nebraska, who had entered the chamber
while Mr.. Longworth was reading
"Mr. Creel, chairman of the Com
mittee on Public Information" an
swcrcd the Ohio member. 81 know of
no inatance up to now when the most
craven pacifst ever went half so far.
have heard men since this war began
anolopize for our failure to prepare in
some degree for the inevitable. have
heard some men condone this failure
lis a political necessity, but never be-
fore have / heard an American boast
Of it and glory in 1t. ,,
"rhat is fine news, my colleagues. to
send TO our boys at the front. That is
a message which will cheerathe hearts
Of our brave allies. Genera soch, IN
suprcme command Of the Allied forces
no doubt viii delight and glory with
Mr.. Creel upon the fact that America
entered this war entirely unpreparcd
ciyes Encouragement to Kaiser
"That brave Belgian King and Cen
eral Joffre, who months ago came &c
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