Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-26
Secretary Daniels
Hit By Broadside
Fired By Admiral
By Associated Press.

=
Washington, June 26.-The Sims
Daniels row over the navy's conduct
cf the war was revived today with
the publication of letter from Rear
Admiral Benton c. Decker, com
mandant OF the Seventh naval dis
trict. Florida, in which he charges
that Secretary Daniels In his testi-
mony before the senate investisat-
ing committee Intentionally and de-
llberately" misrepresented certain
acts Of Rear Admirals Sims. Fullum
and Fiske.
Admiral Decker formerly was
naval attache at Madrid but was re-
moved during the war. Secretary
Daniels has stated that his removal
followed representations from AM
passador Willard to the state de-
partment that he was encroaching on
diplomatic functions in his activities
there.
The admiral declared in his letter
that from my personal knowledge of
Mr.. Daniels character. | am led to
DeleVe that whatever is cited in his
statements to the discredit of the
officers is SO perverted and twisted
as to give the actual fscts a false
meaning"
1T is probable and more likely
that II these officers had bowed
down and had served the gods that
Mr.. Daniels worshipped, they would
today have been fattenlng on the
navy as commanders OF fleets on
active duty or in pleasant Jobs in
Washington. To mes as to other
nigh officers Of the navy, it has come
that II we would bow down and do
the wishes Of Mr.. Daniels. we would
receive the rewards therefor-inti-
nations that come by circuitous
routes and underhanded, sneaking
ways. so that no one can take hold of
| them.
My explanation Of the incidents
set forth by Mr.. Daniels is based
upon my personal experience with
him. This explanation is that Mr..
Daniels found these officers would
| not follow him to the limit of de-
morailzing and degrading the navy;
that. even tho they honestly desired
| the rewards and promotion OF their
career, which all honorable men
reasonably desire, they were not
wiling to sacrifice their character,
their manhood and their country,
and as result, Mr.. Daniels deter
| mined to break them by the use of
all the power Of his high office, by
| the use OF the power 81 ridicule.
sarcasm and half truths that, as a
newspaperman. he had learned how
to use SO skillfuliy; by the use of
strength Of publicity secured thru his
newspaper connections. all the
weapons which pruasianism used TO
destroy its enemies. and autocracy
has used thru the ages to maintain
its power.
In my opinion, all credit Is due to
these men that they have fought to
the end and upheld the standard of
uprfshtness. loyalty to country. self
sacrifice, hard work and gentlemanly
conduct. attributes that the ideal
naval officer has always revered.
1 have no desire in this letter to
orlng out my personal experiences
with Mr.. Daniels, but he knows of
them, and he knows, If he knows the
dlfference between right and wrong
that he has been dishonest, that he
has been autocratic: that he has
abused his powers: that he has done
all this for unworthy motives"
Except for the addition Of new
names, practically no change has
been made by the Knight board in the
original list OF recommendations for
award OF war service DECORATIONS
members Of the board said today.
The boards second report was
submitted to Mr.. Daniels Just before
ne ie1t Tor San Francisco, and he has
not yet thoroughly examined 1t. The
secretary has said he will transmit
the second report to the president
without amendment,