New-York tribune., 1918-05-28
The Voice Afraid
An editorial from "The NeaU York American" yes-
terday

his grievances Mr.. Roosevets accusations and nnuen
does against the Hearst papers follows
Mr. Roosevelt charges that prior to Americas decara
ton of the Hearst papers advocated strict observance
of neutrality and equally firm resistance to all aggression
neutrality and upon rights to the seas
freely matter which of the begerents committed those
aggressons.
We reply that did advocate that very policy. And
Gid the President And did the great majority of the
American people.
Mr. Roosevelt charges that prior declaration Of
the Hearst advocated the policy keeping out of
the
We reply that did advocate keeping of the
until sufficiently prepared to make effectively
But also advocated daily and had advocated for
the creation of the greatest the world and the
creation of the greatest auxiliary in the world through
merchant ships and the formation of the
greatest citizen the world through universal service
and the education of ample supply Of officers through
ernmen5 universities like West Point and Annapolis estab
lished throughout the whole United States.
If the urgent advocacy of the Hearst had been
needed would have entered the with overwhelming
naval and military forces Immediately available and indeed
formidable would have been preparations that the
threat of intervention would have been sufficient to
the recognition of just demands without in all
probability the need of blood sacrifice.
Mr. Roosevelt charges that the Hearst condoned
the sinking the Lustania that
for declaring
Our reply that the Hearst papers did condone the
sinking of the Lusana but denounced that act
and again, brutal and
eganst the sentiment of mankind The first half of this
accusation asehood and Mr. Roosevelt knows
a falsehood.
AS to the second half the accusation-that s
Gid not consider the sinking of the Lustana horrible
though it for declaring reply that
that THE PRECISE VIEW taken by the President and
by the majority of citizens that time And the proof
is that did not declare then not until two years
afterward and that two after the sinking of the Lus
tania the President appealed the reelection
the ground that he had the country of and the
people did reflect him upon that ground
Mr. Roosevelt knows that these true Statements He
knows that his attempt single papers
though they had stood alone this matter instead
standing they did, with the President and the majority of
the American people, is and contemplate effort
trade public forgetfunes unworthy of of honor
Mr.. Roosevelt charges that "The New York American"
printed the Presidents Memorial Day proclamation
paragraph containing the prayer for victory omitted
Our reply is that in edition of newspaper among
the newspapers which Mr.. Hearst with their
many editions this unfortunate through the
carelessness of subordinate editor.
We paid little attention to this accusation while it
made only by newspaper competitor noted
of decency for fairness
but that Mr. Roosevelt has become The Trbunes
messenger boy carry it's fasehoods pages
Congressional Record" and publicity which the sparse
circulation of The Tribune could give,
matter clear, for ALL to the satisfaction
minded persons.
The Presidents Memorial Day proclamation was handed
to Washington correspondents and
day. May H. to be sent out the country AS customary
the Hearst SERVICE known the international News Service
put the the evening transmission
to all newspapers taking the Hearst servcencuding,
course, the Hearst papers themselves.
The message sent IN FULL and was printed IN
FULL in edition of Hearst paper with the
exception of edition of York Americanand
that omission occurred in this way which every
will readily understands
The message printed complete in the earlier edi-
tions inside but the editor desiring to
give greater prominence to the message instructions
before he went home to reset the message larger type
end transfer to allotted space first page This
the subordinate editor proceeded when the reset
to hand just before the edition was going
the subordinate editor that the message did
not fit the allotted space and in order make it fit he
hurredly and stupidity paragraph which happened
to be the paragraph which certainly should not have been
omitted.
We must confess that the diabocal ingenuity could
not have selected lines to which could have caused
editorial dsmay heartfelt profanity than
did the perverse stupidity of this particular subeditor
That this omission wholly unntentional and un-
evodabe shown by the fact that the Hearst papers have
not only printed this and other proclamation of the
president complete their pages printed this and
otner speeches. messages and procamaons
ky the hundreds of thousands illuminated with flags in
color and with the Presidents portrait on fine paper for
framing and have distributed these impressions
IN the schools in the shops libraries patriotic
societies with the sole object of preserving the
notable sentiments and inspiring devotion
PEOPLE
10 ascrlbe the accident of omission the instance
OF one edition to bad motives premedtated doyay
as cowardly as it is unworthy, attempt con-
meet Mr. Hearst with this omission, when he under