The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-03-25
For Sheriff:
WHAT ABOUT SIMS?

1t is an old and trite, but not III
elegant expression that 1T is a dirty
bid that beiouls its own nest There
is nothing that we can think of that
so aptly fits Rear Admiral Sims.
When this country was forced into
the great War against Germany, Ad-
miral Sims was chosen over all the
other L. S. Naval officers to take
command in the war zone. He was
sent to England to cooperate with
that country and France i'll protect
ing the coasts. in hunting down and
destroying the submarines, i'll pro-
tectng the commerce Of the allied
countries and assisting in the con-
yoying -oi-our- troop sl4ips.-lt-was d
new and untried naval warfare i'll
many aspects, and it was expected to
be learned by experience, and very
many failures of plans and policies
were recorded before the pirates OF
the sea were finally subjugated.
The great results were what count
ed, and When they were obtaind the
three combined navies were given
full credit for their share in the wor-
derful victory, according to the parts
they played, and all acclaimed the
splendid achievements of our navy,
and Admiral Sims was given due
honors. He was feasted and praised
by the English government, that at
tempted to bestow high titles and dec
orations upon him. over all rules and
policies governing such matters by
this country. 1t would take a strong
character indeed to keep his poise
under such conditions and we fear it
penetrated Sims vital weak spot
During the Spanish American War,
when controversies arose between
Admirals Sampson aud Sehley-e+ef
the credit for sinking the Spanish
fleet off Santiago people could under
stand the object and cause for the
quarrel, complaints and charges,
which finally became national scam
dial. Sampson was the senior Ad-
n1iral i'll charge of the blockade, and
on the fateiul day that the enemy
fleet ventured out to do battle, Samp-
son had gone off on scouting ex-
petition and Schley was the ranking
officer in charge and won the battle.
Sampson bitterly contested for the
honors and it was finally given to
him by Republican Congress, S:hlee::
icing a Democrat
But in Sims case the honors were
not contested, yet he has voluntarily
heaped charges and insinuations up
on the Secretary of the Navy and the
Naval Board at Washington. that had
charge OF the full conduct OF the
Naval activities. lie first took
umbrage because the Secretary did
not approve without question, all his
recommendations for decorations and
medals for his favorites. lie then
went before a Republican Senate
Committee, interested primarily i'll
discrcdting as far as possible the Ad-
ministration, and has been making
the widest charges OF mismanage-
ment and inefficiency OF the Navy
part in the War, until, if he could be
credited and the results did not stand
out so commandingly before the
world, the u. S. Naval program was
a complete failure and hindrance
instead of a help to England.
So far as we can see only one OF
two conclusions can be drawn from
his actions. either he is a supreme
egotist and the honors heaped upon
him have turned his head, or he has
been persuaded to play partisan
role in an effort to break down the
Democratic Administration, in the
belief, and possible promise, that in
the event a Republican President is
elected he will be put at the head OF
the United States Navy.
In either event his days of useful
ness to his country in the Navy are
ended, and in view of the fact that he
had broken every law and tradition
of the Navy, he should be court.
martialed and If not drummed out Of
service, reduced in rank to where his
ratings would not attract attention
twill be argued by some that :,
eourt-martial would tend to make Z
martyr out of him. bst q marty
doesn't last long. without q srea'
righteous principle back Of him. A.
ehis Admiral Sims doesn't possess.