New-York tribune., 1918-10-09
Vacation Association R..
quests Secretary and Creel
to Issue Statements
Attacks on Tribune
Roundly Condemned
Board Likens "Americans
to Bolsheviki and De.
mands Official Reply

The Hearst-born Official condemns.
ton" of The Tribune brought forth
the genuine variety when the circuLs.
ton manager of "The New York Amer.
ican" sent it to the board Of dfso-
tors of the Vacation Association viii
the customary request TO post in
conspicuous place"
On Saturday the board, which il.
cludes among its membership Mrs.
Newcomb Carlton, Mrs. Wendell Baker
Miss Anne Morgan, Miss Mabel BeardsN
ley, Mrs. August Belmont, Mrs. Daniel
Guggenheim, Mrs. Alexander Kohut
Miss Theresa K. ODonohue. Mrs. Pon-
sonby Ogle, Mrs. Prescott Slade, Mss
Maude Wetmore and Mrs. Cornelius
Zabriskie-receiyed letter from This
explaining that this so-called Official
condemnation" of The Tribune was the
measure of the sincerity and truth o.
its fight against the disloyalism of the
Hearst papers.
In the words OF the boards presi-
dent, Miss Gertrude Robinson Smith,
the members were "incensed and i'm
mediately decided to take official &C.
ton" This action has taken the form
Of letters from the association 10 Will
lam G.. McAdoo and George Creel, who
are quoted in the fake official" poster,
inauiring as 10 the truth of quotations
and asking If they acqulesce n the
use thus made OF their names and eu-
thority by "The American"
McAdoo Is Questioned.
The Vacation Association stigmatiSed
"The American" as "Bolshevik, sedi-
tious and unswervingly anti-Ameri-
can"
Yesterday the Vacation Association
gave out copies of the letters. The
following-similar to that sent I,
Creel--went to Secretary McAdoo:
October ). 1918.
The Honorable William &. McAdoo,
Secretary OF the Treasury, Wash
ington, d. c.
Honorable Sir: Each member of
our board of directors received To-
day from the circulation manager of
"Ths New York American" a letter
and poster, whicll we submit here
with
The letter states that "it is nov
generally understood that The New
York Tribune's vicious attacks on
The New York American
I have been merely cover fer The
Tribunes efforts to undermine pub
lie confidence in the work of the ma
tional Administration" The letter
incloscd poster on which are
printed statements from you and Mr..
Crecl, which quote you at length as
saying that The New York Tribune
has been guilty of "giving aid and
/ comfort to the enemy" and has been
altogether vicious and misleading in
its attitude. The letter from The
American" requested that the poster
(quoting you and Mr.. Creel against
The Tribune) should be conspicu-
ously displayed. Our committee was
incensed, and Immediately decided to
take official action.
We know that The Tribune has a:
times criticised the national Admin
istration, but we also know that such
/ It's merit and wisdom, or lack o. them,
arose. in fact, from patriotic feel.
ings. That is to say. there can be no
question of The Iribune's loyalty
On the contrary, "The American IS
so-called Democratic paper, may
have hypocritically assumed 10y
atty to the Administration. but N
truth it has been undeviatingly Bol-
shevik, seditious and unswervingly
anti-American in its principles.
We are convinced that your state
ments. even if they are rightly
quoted, arc at this time misapplied
by "The American" TO serve its sed-
tious and personal purpose, and "The
American" is using the august
authority of your great name, your
influence and your position in our
government as a shield behind which
70 direct their personal attacks upon
The New York Tribune.
Wants Position Stated
Our organization. together With
many others. is doing its best TO up
hold the singleness and unity Of the
government. But we confess TO
great perplexity when VIC sec cur
name and words sensationally quoted
IN an intiammatory manner.
Would it be too much TO ask you 70
let us know whether you are rightly
quoted as saying, as The Ameri'
cans" notice SENS 10 make you sly
that The Tribune is guilty of giving
aid and comfort to the enemy? Anc
is it your wish that THE American
should use your words IN the way
1t is doing?
We are writing to you for guidance
in the matter and should be grateful
for 2 word of advice. Very truly
Gertrude ROBINSON SMITH.