New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11

on Public Information, has
found q new outlet for his
..srries in writing two books, How
10 Advertised America" and "The
war. the World and Wilson" The first
!. description of the work of the
Committee on Public Information, the
second is eulogy of President Will
sons foreign policy. Both are pub
l;shked by Harper & Bros.
Naturally Mr.. Creel is most interest
;nr when he describes the work of his
own organization. There is nothing
tame or colorless about the recital of
IT'S achievements. All the enthusiasm
which Mr. Creel used to lavish upon
the gospel Of Americanism is now ex-
pended upon the aims, methods and
personnel of the committee. All the
denunciations which he used to pour
ost upon the Germans are now hurled
At the heads of the impious Senators
and newspaper editors who presumed
70 cavil at it's workings. In an ascend
ing paan of triumph Mr. Creel recitcs
the manifold services of the committee.
Among other things it organized the
Four Minute Men, body which scom-
manded the volunteer services of U.s.
900 speakers, operating in $500 COM
munities and making q total of 755, 100
speeches, every one having the carry
Of shrapnel"
Mr. Creel wakes so enthusiastic over
the irresistible weight of the argu-
ments and facts presented by agents
Of the committee all over the world
that one is sometimes tempted to won
der whether a great deal of bloodshed
might not have been averted if the
armies had been removed from the
trenches and replaced by the commit
tees invincihle band Of orators
Attacks Congress
The author apparently believes that
the war could have been won much
more effectively if Congress had been
non-existent. He says:
"Of all the war work executives in
Washington, Republicans and Demo
Gratis alike, it is safe to say that there
was not one who did not 20 to bed at
night with the prayer that he might
wake in the morning to find Congress
only the horrible imagining of uneasy
slumber'
Personal enmity, according to Mr..
Creel, was the real basis of the at
taeks which were made upon him and
his work in the Senate.
Back in 1915" he says, II wrote an
article for 'Everybcdy's Magazine in
which tried to give fair and dis
passionate study of johnson. as q Presi-
Dental candidate. 1t was not a fat
terlng estimate, and the abnormal
vanity of the man never forgave it..
Ihe Johnson wattles swelled and red
dened to state of chronic infamma-
ton as far as l was concerned. and nv
assumption of public Office gave him
the chance for which he had been wait
ing. As for Reed, I had known the
Yellow from the start of his career and
during the ten years in which 1 lived
and wrote in Kansas City there was not
week in which I did not try to hold
MIN up TO the contempt and ridicule
that were deserved by his character
and abilities"
Inc author makes the following char
acssrzation of Senator Lodge:
An exceedingly dull man and a vev
VAIN one-deadly combination - his
vanity fosters his ignorance bv persis.
lent refusal to confess it. More than
any other Senator he has the convic-
uon OF omniscience, and his solemn
expression and conservative whiskers
persuade many people to accent him
at his own valuation"
Praise for Assistants
Mr. Creel is equally extravaeant in
praise and dlspraise. 1t seems diff
cult to believe that there are so much
genus, altruism and patriotism in the
world as the author finds in his CO.
workers OF the committee. One of his
helpers is described as "a dynamo of
energy and originality, an enthusiast
WIN an unfailing supply Of optimism,
ana above all, real American" An
0'her Is "a voice, right hand, rud-
aer and an inspiration" In addition
.. 70 praising his assistants so generously
Ar. Creel includes many of their pic
lures IN the book. >
frank review of the work of the
s0mmittee might reasonably have been
expected to include few confessions
OF failure. few reflections on the
limitations and proper direction of war
.'me propaganda. Mr.. Creel does moth
ing OF the kind. With few negligible
Exceptions he gives himself practically
clean bill of health and exclaims
over and over again at the .obstinacy
ahd perversity of "the solemn editorial
ssses who refused to applaud his
Aanoiwork as altogether perfect. His
000k suggests an extended press agents
"0.lce rather than history.
me author does make out a pretty
s00a case for the policy which the
'ommittee pursued in dealing with
r1ien groups within the United States.
ne INDUCES in severe and deserved
s.'aeism Of groups Of self-appointed