The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-05-27

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= Euntrulhfuly TO aSsail our public ser
VantS--or any one else. But IT is Our
} duty To tell the ruth about our pub
) lie servants, whether the truth De
. pleasant or unpleasant. The higher
: the public servant and the more I'M
; pnrtant bis task. The more careful we
: should be 10 sneak The truth about
him: and Tie more necessary it is
; That VIC should tell the truth about
him.
Dangerous to Tell Truth.
"Durin the pas, Year the action OF
the administra lion. ,aken largely
through the posloftce department has
been such as 10 render it a matter
OF some danger for any man. ana
especially any newspaper, 10 SPEAK
The 1:uth, ii that truth be unpleasant
10 rae governmental authorities at
Washington The effect of this attl'
tudc has been very marked political
L.. Such coercire power tends 10
make upright men, even although
they are strong men, cautious about
telling truths which ought 10 De told.
1t forces weak men 10 praise the adj
ADMINISTRATION whether it does we'll or
ill. 1t invites INSCRIPTIONS men who
desire TO serve Germany 10 gain IL
C"nSe TO do so and 10 secure adVant-
iaGcs by praiSing the administration,
IeSpectai}y when it has acted wrongly
or inetficicntly and By supporting II
politically. There are cases where all
competent and honest observers are
mn flin Iut n.O n n
port has been given, and is now De-
ing given, TO the administration by
various newspapers. especially Ger
man-American and Semi-Sociallstlc
newspapers. because Of The club thus
held over them by the admlnisLra'
ton.
From the very nature Of The case
there can rarely hr positive proof IN
such cases. But as regards the most
striking cases OF favorltlsm, those
concerning the Hearst papers, as
compared with the suppression or
Tom Watson's paper, and the attack
QoT nominally wholly different rea-
sons) on The Metropolitan l here
what | have alleged.
he lOSlUldSlcI ItHcIdl Has TdlSpu
the issue; meet it squarely. and he
shall not evade it. The Administration
has successfully endeavortd to prevent
expression of opinion hostile 10 il and
To put Il premium upon supporting the
President personally and politically
without regard TO whether his actions
are detrimental or beneficial TO the
country.
Criticises Creel Bureau.
The Administration, through the
Publicity Bureau, under the lead OF
Mr.. Crecl,. is conducting Il gigantic
news propaganda with the public
money. Mr. Creel's activities are OK
icrciScd nominally on behalf Of the
country, but in reality primarily on
behalf OF the administration. Mr..
Crccl announces and publishes himself
as the special representative of the
President and is permitted by the
President so to announce and publish
himself. He asSailS the publications
that truthfUlly expose the shoTcom.
ings of the Administration, and, with.
out regard 10 the facts, he. personally
and through his bureau. actively up
holds the Administration as regards
those matters, such as The aircraft !
program, in which there have been
grave governmental shortcomings
This is partisan political propaganda
of the very worst type, carried on with |
| public moneys under Tho cuisc of pub. !
| lie work The editor of The Metro. ,
politan' wrote Mr.. CrprL on March I: !
Z, -.
the time and money Of your bureau !
which is supported by the American
taxpayers. TO defend Numbers Of the ;
Administration from criticism in the !
public press? Are YOU not in fact |
! The personal press agent Of tho PreSi !
/ dent and members Of the Admins. |
/ trItinn'
What tho editor of The Mrtropoli. !
: tan thus stated in The form OF a query ,
should b. Stated affirma'ively as an
| unqu"sli0nrl Tact.
Takes Up the Challenge.
81 have said 81 much by way Of max. !
! ing the general situation clear Now ,
as to Postmaster General Rurlesons
! challenges. This can be divided into
WI Ii'ti iilH', WI. lNu' "S'IH N''lltS
! that the Administration has ever dis.
crimina;nd improperly against any
=! publication. and. second, hr denies that !
! it has eyer failed ~ proceed against
Iany publication which ought to have
been proceeded against.
"F'irSt~-"The MctronnIiran Maya.
zine Golfers Weekly and the New
| York Tribune have consistently unhrh
tn" war. They eagerly demanded hat
We should 20 to Wa they supported
I'll" President in going 10 war they
have cordially upheld every measure
for prosecuting Tho WAY. Ept they
have also told not all Of tho truth. hut
some small portion CT Inc truth. which
it was absolutely necessary 10 tell
about the ADMINISTRATORS faiiures IN
conduct the Wal efficiently. They have
only told even this sr' all portion Of
the truth when II WIS irin"ra:)vn 81 !
10 do in order 70 speed up The war and
to prevent perseverance" in inrfticirn.
rr. All three publications. have been
attacked ny Mr.. Crcrl officially. speak
ing as President Wilson's ronrrSenta-
tive and 'as giving message from The
United States, government 10 tho