The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-13
WHY ASSA|t PRO-ALLY?
EDITOR ASKS OF CREEL
Mr.. whiglsam of the Metropolitan
Wonders Why Hearst Is Immune
Writes an Open Letter.

II. j. Whigham, editor of The
Metropolitan magazine which, short
ly after its March issue had been dis
tributed, received notice from the
postofIice department that the issue
had been forbidden use OF the mails
on account of an article in 1t written
by William Hard has written an
open letter" to George Creel. chair
man Of the committee on public in
formation, replying TO an attack on
The Metropolitan made by Mr.. Creei.
I'm the current issue of The independ-
ent
Mr. Greet. in his article. defended
Or. Garfield, the federal fuel admin
istrator. aaginst charges of executive
fneXperience and lack of knowledge
of coal mining and coal distribution
previously made in the Metropolitan.
suggested that the writer was "guiftily
falsifyng. for the purpose OF weak
ing the faith of neaders on the war
measures of the government, Mr..
Whigham. after citing the known facts
regarding Dr. Garfeld's career and
showing that he had no direct knowl-
edge OF mining operations or of coal
distribution, replies that Mr.. Creel, in
asserting in Garfield's defense that the
famous fuel order was advised by the
triple war council az an urgent meas
ure' evidently Intends ito give the
picture of a body of men with the
supreme direction Of the war in their
hands, with an access to all kinds OF
expert advice, deciding that the ia
nous order was the only remed for
the great coal crisis. -
This picture" Mr. Whigha n.
writes, has no relation with facts.
There Is no such body OF men" The
so-called super war council Is n hasti-
IL created adjunct OF the war depart
rnent designed apparently by Mr..
Baker as an asylum for admtnistra@
tive Cultures Ike General Crozter ana
General Sharpe. This war council
il not directing the war, and there LIZ
not n e!ngle member on this council
whose opinion on the subject OF how
20 handle a coal crisis is worth the
paper it might be written on. II our
statement is true, that Mr.. Garfield
acted on the advice OF the war coun-
cell. he thereby gives the most
daraning proof of his utter lack OF
executive ability Can YOU imagine
Mr. McAdoo taking sorne drastic step
in connection with the issue OF the
next liberty loan on the ADVICE OF
General Crozier and 9 Il e "a
sharpe
III were TO use language as care
lesslv as you have used II / might say
that in this article you 'gailbiy Iaisi-
Is in order 10 give our readers n en-
tirely wrong impression of Mr.. Car
neId's abilit. But / do not use Ian
guaGe tarelessIy. and I am perfectly
willing 20 suppose that you are SIN :
cerely doing your best to def"no
members OF the administration. !
shouia hike, however to ask you two
question
"First-Is IL right that you should
use the time and money OF your bu-
reau which is supported by the Amer
lean taxpayers, TO defend members OF
the administration from criticism in
tho public press Are you not IN fact
the personal press agent of the prest-
dent and members of the administra-
tton7
Second-If. as I suppose you will
admit. the main duty of your bureau
is to tell the public what the war is