New-York tribune., 1918-06-26
Poor George sCreeI!
lEronn The Macon Ne,rs .rnnn 1aA

From The Macon Ne1rs Jurs 1877
On March ! there appeared in the Hearst
newspapers an editorial entitled an Self
Defence We Should Hasten to Aid and
Hearten Russia's Revolutionary Govern
ment."
1t was an editorial signed personally by
Hearst, and from which "The Macon News"
has repeatedly quoted the following:
"Let us recognize the rueshdemocracy in
Europe, the truest democracy in the world
/ to-day. Then we can fight an inspiring fight
for democracy with some sincerity and some
conviction"
On March 6. 1918, "The Macon News"
made this the basis of an editorial entitled
"Hearst's Growing Infamy."
1t was copy of this editorial which was
mailed to Mr.. Creel, together with letter
calling specific attention to the mischief
which Hearstism was bringing about. There
was absolutely no other issue nor the re-
motest suggestion of any other issue in the
letter which called attention to the editorial
On March II, 1918, we received from Mr.
Creel the following letter in reply to our
own letter and editorial. It read as follows:
"You have my heartfelt sympathy and
support. The matter is too serious for
anything bat direct action, and as yet the
Department of Justice does not feel that
it has clear-cut case. If nothing is done
in legal way / mean to take up the mat
ter myself"
Somebody has evidently been keel-haul-
ing and bedevilling George again. He hasn't
more than settled himself comfortably since
he apologized for saying he didn't know
what Congress thought because he didn't
go Summing" and what he meant By being
glad the war caught US unprcpared.
The Creel letter was published a weak
ago, but MT. Creel sends "reply" to q ttle-
gram from the president of the Chamber Of
Commerce-who has been out Of town since
Friday-in which he says:
The letter published by The Macon
News was with distinct reference to .
general situation growing out of the Wat
son agitation and was without reference
to the Hearst publications"
Now, to be perfectly candid, we have felt
sorry for George Creel ever since he took
up the thankless task he has sought to dis
charge. We believe he has done good work.
We have deprecated the attitude of those
who put him on the grill for thanking God
the war had found us unprepared," because
we honestly believe that all he meant was
he was glad we had not gone around with
chip on our shoulder. He must be tired Of
having people put him on the spit Just to
see him squirm.
We shall treat him tenderly now.
WE SHALL MERELY ASK HIM, IN COM
MON FAIRNESS, TO PUBLISH THE ORIG
1NAL LETTER TO WHICH HIS COMMU-
NICATION OF MARCH II WAS A REPLY.
AS matter of fact, we are perfectly
content to leave it to the common sense of
any reader of "The News" as to what he
was referring to when in connection with
"The News" editorial, "Heafst's Crowning
1nfamy"-the tendency of which, we held,
was to encourage the Bolshevik views in,
this country-he said:
"You have my heartfelt sympathy and
support"
The Situation growing out of the Watson
agitation" was dead issue long ago. Wat
son had been put out of business the first
week of last October.
Why should there have been any aues-
tion Of the Department of Justice waiting
on "clear-cut case" against Watson six
months after Watson had shut up shop and
had SUNK to silence like tavern brawl"!
Hearstism was the only issue under dis
cussion, and to Hearstism alone could Mr.
Creel have intended to refer.
If he has had an attack of "eold feet" ID
the interim that is his affair.