The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-10
TREASON TAINT
ISLAID DTOCREEL
FOR HIS SPEECH
Senator PenrOse and Others
III Congress Assail Pub
licity Official.
FOR GAG OR REMOVAL
Pride in America Having Been
Unprepared Denounced in
Both Houses.

Seecisi DesposcA to Tns SUH.
WAsHiNoroN. April s.-George Creei's
speech Of thankfulness that this nation
was not prepared when We entered the
war a year ago aroused storm oi
vehement protest and denunciation !r
both houses Of Congress to-day. Through.
out the sessions there were scorchins
references to the chief Of the Bureau OF
Public Information's speech.
"The great arch traitor Of tAls re.
public was the scathing arraignment
Of Creel In the Senate BY Senator Sher-
man Ull.). who likewise characterized
him A. "a distinguished pacihst." Re-
ferrinG to Mr.. CreelT Thanksgiving for
our unpreparedness Mr.: Sherman said
III We had been prepared, II we had
100000 men on the lines now. the war
would be ended BY this autumn. At this
time, ~ 1t Is. we are playing no mans
part In the history OF the world. The
Allies are steadily losing ground. The
Germans have conquered mn area 200
square miles larger thaa the State Of
Rhode Island. and II they reach the
Channel they will sever the British army
from the French. Perhaps that 10 VII,
this Government publicity director
thanked God yesterday that we were not
prepared"
In the House Mr.. Longworth (Ohio)
characterized the Creel speech - Q
peculiarly slnister uttarance." and
added that mo such unpa;riotic. un-
American statement has been uttered BY
any American citisen SINCE this war
began" - g..
. ''smeared with Treason"
Senator Penrose. tPa) referred to
Creel as man "smeared all over with
treason" while Senator johnson tCai)
asserted that the fathers and mothers
Of the land who had sent their sons tO
the French trenches would say: I'VE
feel you are not At at this particular
time to participate In the prosecution OF
this war IN any regard"
What AFR. Creel had actually said at
the opening session OF the National Con-
ference Of American Lecturers was: II
shall be proud to my dying day that
there was no rush OF preparation In this
country prior to the day the President
went before Congress
The utterances Of Mr.. Creel prompted
Senator I'enrose to introduce the fol-
lowing amendment to the pending reso-
luton to amend the espionage act:
No person who has committed any
one Of the offences described n the act
shall be eligible for ONCE. and II
such person Ia now holding once
under the United States he shall be
discharged therefrom upon his guilt
being declared blythe head OF the de-
partment In which he Is employed.
Senator Penrose in introducing his
amendment remarked that 1t was no
torious fact that In Washington holding
public ofSices were persons Of strong
pro-C3erman leanin9s who have writ
ten scurrilous reflections and treasonable
articles on the Constitution Of the United
States"
Senator Pesrose's Attack.
Senator Penrose sA!d: IT suppose quo
warranto proceedings would lie against
an elective olYicer based on the charge
that he had been guilty Of these offences.
but do not sec why We should permit
mon like Mr. Creel. for instance. whose
scurri!ous and defamatory utterances on
the Constitution Of the United States
were read in this body the other day to
De holding an ONCE and publishing a
publicity chronicle, when he Is emeared
all over with treason"
Senator Fletcher tFla,) at this point
suggested that a conviction by a court OF
competent Jurisdiction should precede
| such summary action ms the dismissal
of an employee OF tho Government. but
Senator Penrose shook his head and re-
marked that 1t was too cumbersome
method.
He then suggested that criticism Of Mr..
Creel as a duly constituted authority
Of the Government might render tho
critic amenable under the law for sedi-
| tAs, sskt tAp xUa a.
proposed In the Senate. lie continued:
~ can see no reason why there should
be any grave peril to any one. Senator
or other person. declaring his real senti-
ments about George Creel outside of this
body. But any one who would crit!cisc
the editor Of the court chronicle In .
licentious spirit would be doubtless
brought into court am willing to take
the chance. however. ! only offer the
to impress on executive
heads Of the Government the fact that
this 10 one Of the phases Of the Qualifica-
tions of applicantS tor once which
ought to be considered"
"Its inclusion in the law would add
moral strensth to the head Of DEPART
ment," hero interposed Senator Sherman.
yes" remarked Penrose In conclu-
sion, IT should think m and It would
also cause q considerable breach In the
ranks Of the ONCE holders"
senator johnson Jotns.
The discussion Of the personality Of
Mr.. Creel brought Senator johnson into
the fray with a drastic criticism Of
CreeI. Senator johnson said:
II read this morning the language Of
the distinguished gentleman who pre-
sides over the Bureau Of Public In
formation. Mr.. George Cgeel. I read he
Continued on TAtrd Page.