The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-10
SIMS Is CENTER
OF ATTENTION
IN WASHINGTON
Capital Wonders II
Admiral Will Be
Punished.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1921.
Special to The Argus)

Especial to The Argus)
Washington. June 10.-Everybody
in the national capital is wondering
today what form of punishment. II
any, will be meted out to Admiral
Sims for his speech in London de-
claring that resolutions of congress
on the Irish question should be ig-
nored because they are influenced
by "jackass votes in the American
electorate.
Admiral Sims has been rebuked
before by Republican and Demo-
cratic administrations for his in
discreet speeches, but the repri-
mands didn't take" The Harding
administration is being besieged
with indignant petitions asking that
the admiral be punished for his ut
terance. President Harding has
taken notice of the affair but pre-
fers to await the outcome of the
cabled request from Secretary Den
by OF the navy department to Ad-
miral Sims asking for a statement
as to whether he was. correctly
quoted and an explanation Of the
speech. The inquiry is in itself
an implication Of disapproval.
Harvey CoMplicates Affair.
But the handling Of the Sims
speech has been made doubly dif-
ficult for the Harding administra-
ton because it lately saw fit to ig-
more another indiscretion in the
speech of another American oficial
abroad-Ambassador George Har-
vey. The latter told the British
people at public dinner that Amer
leans didn't enter the war for
humanitarian or unselfish purposes
but ito save cur SKINS" and he crit
icized the United States for not en-
tering the war sooner than it did.
This speech offended q great body
Of American citizens and particu-
larly many members Of the Ameri-
can Legion, some of whom adopted
resolutions asking President Hard
ing to recall the ambassador.
|. So the Harding administration IL
confronted with the problem Of
muxxling its chicials abroad or at
H. n1eolng their .oratorfcaf I'M
pulses. II Sims is rebuked, the
movement to have Harvey repri-
manded will also be renewed. Un-
questionably the Sims speech has
stirred mp more of q hornets nest
and IL regarded here g a much
greater indiscretion than that OF
Harvey. but the true inclination OF
folks here is to tell not only Har-
vey and Sims but all American on
cials abroad to refrain hereafter
from commenting on things that
are likely to rekindle the fires Of
partisanship and controversy at
home.
Distlrbs White House PeaeN.
Everything was going along nice
ly here with respect to the Irish
question when Admiral Sims
speech, came along. The admins
tration was free from picketing.
The Irish had not tormented the
occupant Of the White house with
pleas to recognize the independence
of Ireland as was the case under
the Wilson administration. Nc
resolutions had been forced to the
front Of the calendar in the senate
disapproving the ATROCITIES" in Ire
land. In short, everything was
peaceful and the Harding admins
tration was hoping things would
continue that way when of sudden
Admiral Sims revives the entire
controversy and brings the Irish
question to the doors Of the White
house again.
Mccormick Persistent
Secretary DENLY will be guided
by the president in the action ht
takes and the Irish on this side
Of the Atlantic will not be salts.
fed until Sims is formally and suf.
ficiently reproved. Senator Medil1
Mccormick and others in congress
have made 1t plain that they do no
intend to let the matter drop. Ad'
miral Sims has splendid war rec
ord but hasn't learned that discre'
ton is the better part OF valor and
judging by the boldness with which
he has disregarded previous de-