Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-01-03
I'Li% i.u.,.n ~ riIE NAVY.

| -'fb e. 's.*'fsA ~ iitt ANANs
| Congress must no% come to the
lrcscuc of the honor and eff cheney of
( the United States navy The present
| Secretary. Mr.. Josrrhus Dnnicls has
succeeded in iuflctinE series OF
| we'll nigh dc"dly blows. which have
so dcmoralizcd the rank and file that
the navy is II grave danger. It's hon
! or is bCSmrchcd and its efficiency
| impaired. Admiral SIMS refusal to
accept the DISTINGUISHED service med
al on account OF the injustice which
has been done to gallant officers un
der his command, brings the question
. OF encouragement OF he Navy De-
: par,inCll To the attention of Congress
III such manner that 1t cannot be ig
norcd with dccCncy or safety.
AIR. Daniels bCSan the udminiStra-
ton OF he Navy Dcpartm with the
good viii Of the service and tho pub
nc. He has not encountered any op
position except that which he has
created himself. Ii The naval officers
are Ill Il state Of deep resentment and
revolt 1T is no. then fault. The pup
lie is disguised with the navyS ms
manage lont and augered because of
the DENIAL Of justice TO brave officers
while personal favoritcs are decorated
: with the honors that belong to 9TH
crS. II is not the fault of the public
that affairs in the navy have gone
from bad to worse. The people gladly
support all appropriations for the
navy and are thrilled with pride when
,,.I oil 1n
wars rnc public willingly gave Mr..
Daniels credit for all he accomplish
cd during the recent war, and for
much that he did not -H.tcomplish.
!hnjrc has not been any disposition to
do anything Errc THAI smile at MIR.
Daniels v"gdr'cS. so long as they
merely exhibited his odd unftncsS
for his place and did not injurc the
service. But now the situation has
taken sinister turn for the worse.
What is to be thought of depart
mcnt head who ovcrturnS facts and
Justice and substi utcS falschood and
injustice in the award Of medals for
distinguished service during the war
against Germany? 1t is a peculiarly
injurious offcnsc against dcccncy and
Justice. 1t strikes at the navy's hon
or-an act that no one ever dreamed
would or could he commi ted by
Joscphus Daniels or any Other Sccrc
tary of the Navy. The navy's honor
IS in his keeping. He is the last man
in the United States who should tarn
ish it. Ills chief duty is to maintain
the navy'S honor. without which
there can he no navy
Naval officers are taught from first
to last to cherish the honor of the
service. Throughout the glorious his
tory of the navy, the pursuit Of hon
or has Occn the inspiration Of heroic
deeds ROW famous throughout the
world The hcEors bestowed by this
; na!ion npoE its naval defenders have
; been until THIS hour the reward above
all others fol which mcn have given
their lives we'll knowing that these
honors were umpurchasable by fav.
oritism and unattainable Ey the undo
serving.
But now--what a change! Tho
choice honor provided by Congress
and entrusted to the Secretary OF
the Navy for bestowal upon those who
have honored their country by dis
tinguishcd service is now made az
. instrument Of malice and favoritism
' so that the badge becomes token OF
. dishonor in the eyes Of gallant Off
, GERS and is priced only by the incon
pctent and the undcserving!
who is the naval officer who vii
wear distinguished service media
bestowed by Joscphus Daniels? How
will he explain his possession Of tn,
diShonorcd symbol of honor? Will hi
take pains to say that he is in fact ;
hero. who, by some mistake or III,
Secretary of the Navy. was permit
ed to have Il medal? Or will he winl
: and nod and whisper eargerly tina
he has pull with the Secretary OF
=. the Navy and can get "honor" by III,
, graft Of fayOritism or sectionalism
No individual OF either of these
, types has ever worn the uniform OF
the United States Navy. Hence there
= will be no such shameful exhibition
of dishonorcd badges purporting tt
express the gratitude of the United
. States for gallant service.
The President cannot he expect ed
to attend to this scandal. Unfortunate
~ 1t has occurred during his severe
illness, and advantage has been TAX
cn OF his condition to put through
the plan without his knowledge The
matter is one that calls for the in
slant action Of Congress. Let the
Secretary Of the Navy and the board
, of awards be called forthwith. Let
facts be ascertained and published
, In order that the people may know
where honor and dishonor lie.
Washington Post Dec. 23 1919.