The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-06-26
DANIELS HAS
ABUSED POWER,
ADMIRAL SAYS
Decker Flags Secretary
in Revival of Navy
Controversy

WASHINGTON, June 2s.-Tho
Sims Daniels row over the navy's
conduct of the war. was revived to-
day with the publication Of letter
from Rear Admiral Benton c. Decker
commandant Of the seventh naval dis
trict. Florida, In which he charges
that Secretary Daniels In his ;esti-
mony before the senate investigating
committee Intentionally and deiib-
erately' misreprcsentcd certain acts
Of Rear Admlrals Sims, fuliam ana
Fiske.
The letter. dated June ~. aud ad-
dressed to Chairman Hale OF the
committee was published In the
Army and Navy Register. service
magazine. Admiral Decker said he
also had rent copy Of II TO Sccre-
tary Daniels.
Removed During War
Admiral Decker formerly was naval
atthche al Madrid but WIS removed
during the war Secretary Daniels
has stated that his removal followed
representations from Ambassador
Willard to the state department that
he was encroHching 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
believe that whatever h cited In his
statements TO the d.scredit OF the
officers h. so perverted ana twisted
a. tu give the actual facts false
meaning"
1t is probable aud more than
likely" Admiral Decker's letter said,
that u these officers had bowed
down and had served the gods that
Mr. Daniels worshipped they would
today have been fattening on the
navy as cen mandcrs OF fleets on ac-
tive duty ar In pleasant Jobs IN
Washington. To me, ns 10 other
high officers OF the navy, u has come
that II we would bow dcyn and do
the wishes OF Mr. Daniels we would
receive the rewards therefor-in inti,na q
tions that come by circuitous routes
upd undcrhanded, shaking ways. 50
that no one can take hold OF them.
Hits Daniels Hard.
MY explanation OF the incidents
SET forth hy Mr.. Daniels h. based up
on my personal experience with him.
This explanation is that Mr., Daniels
found these officers would not follow
him TO the limit 90 drmoali4ing and
degrading the navy; thpt even
though thcN honestly desired tho re-
wards and promotion of their career
which AN honorable men reasonably
desire. they were not willing to sacri-
iicr their character their manhood
and their country. Ana us "a result
Mr. Daniels determined tr break him
. 10y the use Of all the power OF his
high office. by the use OF the power
of TidiCuly. sarcasm and hulf truths,
that us "a newspaper man hc has
/ learned how to use 80 skillully; by
the use of strength of publicity sc-
cured through his newspaper CON
ucctlOns. all the weapons which
/ PrussinuiSm used To destroy It's en-
,mies. aud Hutocracy has used
through the ages Co maintain tts
I power.
In my opinion an credit II due Ia
those mon that they have fought uu-
To the end and upheld the standard of
uprightucss. loyalty t1 country self
sacrifice, hard work ana gcntlcmanly
conduct. attributes that the idea
naval officer has always reNerod
/ II have no dosire iu this letter "a
bring cut my personal experiences
with MI Daniels, but he knows ol
them. and he knows, u he knows IN,
difference between right and wrong
thar he has been dishonest; that h'
has been uutocatic. that ne has
abused his power. that ho has don,
all this for unworthy motives