Arizona republican., 1918-02-21
The Subject of Criticism

In his diversion from his remarks in opposition to the present draft of the pending railroad bil to the subject of criticism that is, honest and just criticism of the government, Senator Johnson of California on Tuesday gave expression to sentiment of which more will be heard. Criticism will longer be senced by charge that it gives comfort and aid to the Ger mans. No doubt when publicity has been given to the fact that persons high in authority have blundered the Germans feel satisfaction and that extent comforted but it would be a bad and suicidal policy wthhoud that degree of comfort from the Germans at the price of withholding from people.
 The man responsible for bundering, however good and.honest he may be- will conceal it far he and he will hide if he can the evil effect of it. Im- provement can come only from publicity and an im- pressive demand that bundering must cease.
 A few days ago. before the investigation of the Hog Island scandal was ordered Chairman Hurley of the shipping board wrote Admiral Bowles, assistant general manager the Emergency Fleet Corporation, in part, follows:
 FROM THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS well as from indications that have come from you, it is quite clear that there is condition of Reorganization well as negligence at Hog Island"
 How long had it been known that this condition had existed? It not of origin. Operations Hog Island had been in progress for months. lions being poured out like water and little being produced to show for the reckless expenditure in branch of the service which is knowledged to be the most important the most vital to our success in the war.
 Admiral Bowes knew it. but how long? Mir. Hurley must have been of it least some time before he wrote that letter of week ago yesterday He and the other officials cognizant of it could have been derelct not to inform the president and the department at once.
 But it was not until the newspapers got hold of it and disclosed the shameful conditions at Hog Island controlled by foremost in the government service and leaders of finance, that the investigation was ordered.
 May we not reasonably believe, at least, may with some warrant suspect that if this mess could have been kept hidden from the newspapers an attempt would have been made to keep it and the disastrous effects of it hidden from the people? doubt the would have tried to straighen things out and to the defects but without energy and without that effect which must come from the publicity that has been given it.
 Certainly, it will be comforting to the Germans to hear of the Hog Island affair." But the publicity which has been given it will afford such sub stantial aid to the Germons a conceament from both them and would have done that is if at any time it was really concealed from them The Ger mans by the way do not get their information regard ing American affairs from the newspapers
 We have sticklers for the constitutional rights of free speech and the freedom of the press and we have shared the alarm of those Who from time to time have imagined that those rights were being infringed upon. We have beheld many nuisances under the guises of speech and free dom of the press. But in time like this it is the duty of the press and of individuals to give the great est publicity to every bunder connection with the war whether it is the result of incompetency or de- sign.
 Nothing is 10 be gained by concealing our mistakes from the Germans if at the same time, we conceal them from ourselves