Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-20
creel's Political MufRer.


tor Henry Cabot Lodge outlining the
views Of the Republican party with
respect 70 our aims in the war
against Germany was quoted ex-
tensively in practically every metro
politan paper Of the country and
most favorably commented on by the
pless of both political parties. That
speech made a profoundly favorable
impression in Great Britain. and in
Europe generally. Clenenceau is re-
ported to have said that Lodge
voiced the sentiments Of the French
people.
Ills is al, the Official L. S. Bulle-
tn had to say about the Lodge
speech: Senator Ledge delivered a
warning against German peace
propaganda. declaring that peace
must be dictated to and not ne
sotiated with Germany Z place her
in position where she can never
again disturb the peace Of the
world
Senator Lodge made that speech as
Republican leader in the Senatt Of
:ile United States, a leadership which
lad been freely bestowed upon him
Is his colleagues because Of his long
service ard experience. his ability as
q legislator and because his pro-
found knowledge Of history and d.
plomacv. both American and Euro
rean. emineutly qualified him as q
spokesman for the Republican party
g; any time. and particularly al this
time To the whole world Lodges
suma,ing up of the conditions which
Germany must meet ere peace could
d brought about indicated the stand
which leading Republican had
Americans against military agrees
sion. To George Creel and his in
sL-dlN k'JlILlN3i bPh a p
parently but one idea was suggested,
namely. that here was a speech by a
prominent Republican. so it would
hardly 90 to give it more than pass
ing notice in the Official Bulletin. be-
cause the bulletin = posted daily in
$4,000 post Offices and publicity for a
Republican leader would - pollti-
cal faux pas. So much fo. that.
On August I'd the Senate COM
n,ittee charged with Investigating
the aircraft muddle. rendered a rc-
port. The commlttee had purrosely
ignored the question Of graft. as that
phase Of the investigation was in the
hands Of Judge Hughes. The com
. mittee'5 finding. which was unanl-
, mouslE adopted. gave 10 the public a
condition Of affairs which was SIM
ply friehtfu!, and which by its :esti
, mony practically oonvicts George
CTeel of having permitted, If not ac-
tually authorized, the publication il
the bulletin Of the most atrocious
, taisehoods with respect to cur air.
craft production in the past. No
enc word of the report appeared ir
the Official Bulletin, but the follow
! ing brief comment was made: The
! report contained criticism Of delays
in the early days Of the war. re-
view OF improved conditions, and
recommendation for the creation oil
. a department Of aviation. with a
Cabinet officer at It's head" Secre-
! tary Baker was also quoted as say
ing: The conclusion reached by the
committee that substantial progress
IS now being made Will be very re-
assuring 20 the country" Any one
would think from this that the re-
Fort was one of praise rather than Of
censure for the way our aircraft pro.
gram has been handled, and ,ln-
doubtedIy that was the inference
sought to he conveyed.
The Official Bulletin, edited BY Mr..
Creel, is a heavy expense to the tax
payers of the country. already bur
dened by the cost of war. The pub
lication was supposed to have for its
sole and only purpose the dissent
mating OF facts as to the progress of
The war. 1t has in fact been a sheet
Of the most partisan type. and the
taxpayers Of all the country have
been mulcted to keep going paper
largely devoted to Democratic pub
licity. So long as the Bulletin fol-
lows this procedure politics will not
be adjourned" during the war.
BELGRADE