New-York tribune., 1918-04-21
e T THIS moment when the cause
AZ to which America is pledged is
= sustained alone by the bloody

,rhe Chicago Tribune" Qnd. Rep),
ar George Creel rises to remark that:
q will be proud to my dying day that
~ country was inadequately prepared
~aen it entered the conflict"
And this paper, continuing, says:
aThis inelFable declaration is an echo of
" Bakers admission of some months ago
!, the effect that there had been confusion
!, our military affairs at the outset of the
~. but that it was "a happy confusion
srosing we were not planning war.
ave do not think so i'll of Mr.. Baker as
a believe he is in the same pharisaical
,,me of mind to-day. He has had the
,,vilege of looking into the tragic coun-
nnance of France. He knows nov' in some
Aeree at least, what she has paid during
ia wears she and her allies have defended
he cause alone.
aBut if Mr.. Baker is not still happy in
As. Mr.. George Creel is.
4Mr. George Creel is able to be happy
mcause he is occupying situation 5000
niles from the front. Mr.. George Creel is
,ble to be happy because he has job
shich is as safe as it is conspicuous, and,
=, we are told, influential
If Mr.. George Creel were at this mo,
ut in front line trench we are certain
hat Mr. George Creel's dying day might
be nearer, but his pride in the unprepared-
ness of his country for war would be pro-
,ortonately further off.
aWhat Mr.. Creel is proud of would in nor
nal circumstances be of quite negligible
Importance. But his reputed intimate ac-
.sss to the President gives his public utter
! ,nces an offensive and to elf-respectng
americans most humiliatng significance.
Ne would not otherwise take the trouble
TO repudiate anything he chooses to say.
aBut there has been too much of the
girit expressed by Mr.. Creel in this war
gyernment. 1t is at the source OF some
| u the worst blunders of the Administra-
ion. Mr.. Baker lived for months in an
! atmosphere of moral satisfaction which
ras an obstruction to swift and energetic
| sbout him pleased his moralistc pacifism.
! Garfield, in another field, was so pleased
! 10 win an imaginary moral victory over
! aal profteers that he gave little attention
70 the danger that coal would not be pro-
| duesd While he and his like were ap-
! pauding themselves for their moral SUI
| priority America was falling behind in
ier duty. And now we have Creel's utter
| snce at a moment when the cost of Amer
las backwardness is burning into the con-
aiousness of every decent American from
tie blood -drenchcd, fame-lit battlefield in
France.
"Mr. George CreePs notions are not char
seteristic Of American thought. If they
we're America would not be worth q drop
f good red blood. American common sense
can take no satisfaction in the fact that
We did not judge the course of future
eYentS and prepare against storm whose
black clouds were covering the heavens.
That virtue, that peaceful intentions re-
qure refusal to prepare against aggres-
sion is a part of the sentimental twadde
Of paeifsts But American common sense
rspudiates the moral cowardice and mawk-
! h altruism which fear to possess power
lest if be abused.
4As for Mr.. Creel's moral glorification
ever our unpreparedness, the American
sense of decency, OF loyalty, of duty, can
only be nauseated by it-and especially at
such time as this. No sane and honorable
American can feel anything but grief and
bitter regret that the vast power of Amer
iea is not to-day a mighty bulwark Of our
cause in the great battle in France. Tens
Of thousands Of good men and true lie dead
on that field. In tens of thousands of
homes in friendly lands there is anguish
today for that great sacrifice. In every
Iesponsible mind there is anxiety lest this
sacrifice should not avail our common
anse. And this loss in life and military
position, with it's grave Impairment of our
allies resistance, is possible because Amer
re is not yet ready to do her share.
| Against +ho thunder of tho tyl1ns the
+ ries Of those who fight and suffer and die
for our cause, Mr.. George Creel, snug and
mfe in Washington, speaks his pride that
America is not ready! Noble is altruism
| y some one elses expense.
This is pacifist logic and morality. But
does not express the common sense and
conscience of America. If that common
sense end conscience could be concentrated
u one rough shod boot it would kick this
fetentious pharisee across the Atlantic
rso No Mans Land
Other papers throughout the country
have been expressing opinion as follows:
The Army and Navy Register (Pro-Ad-
ministration
0f course, Mr. Creel was indiscreet and
sawse to the degree of being hopelessly
isolish. His Objectionable indulgence was
nsrsiy hyperbolic dribble with no thought
q anything but the point he imagined he
sas making and without comprehension OF
as Interpretation to which it would be
.aSJeeted. II furnished an opportunity for
Us critics In Congress to vent their spite
sSsnss the public information committee,
mich has been the object Of attack not
much for what it undertakes to sup
sssss al for what it has sought to cir
ssate in the way Of misleading informa-
aan
- ~
ae Montgomery Advertiser (Dem.)
seorgs Creel, chairman Of the Committee
e Public Information and the editor Of