Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-01
Editorial Digest
Il q Naval Inquiry Sufficient?

Il q Naval Inquiry Sufficient!
Just why editorial writer's should
follow political lines in discussing the
| conduct of the American marines in
Haiti is difficult to explain, but the
fact is that a whole-hearted accept.
ance Of the report on the Haitian
situation just made by the Navy De-
partment is confined chiefly to demo-
cratic papers. while the republican
press is united in a demand for a
congressional inquiry which would be
free from any hint OF professions
bias. americans were incredulous. >
the Philadelphia Record (ndependent
| democratic) recalls. when they
heard: apparently on high authority
mat IN Haiti the marines had gone
| cunning for the natives as if they
| were game and there was no closed
! season. But these irresponsible
| ana malicious rumors'' are now eff
| fectual1y disposed Of" the Chicago
| Daiiy News independently finds. "by
inquiry" which has investigated every
charge and has returned a judgment
winch is "a vindication," not in any
| sense "whitewash."
me investigation, the Atlanta Jour-
| nal ldemocratic) informs us, mot
OF indlscriminate killings Of ma
tives,' but established very clearly
SnAt IL mad no basis in fact "
fHrsher. the Newark IN. u News
nnaependent) adds. the facts Of the
an end to fndiscriminate Killings"
Zen: Harnett. the Birmingham Age
aerSld tdemOcratic) comedies. "may
nave oeen sincere in his accuse lions
~ oesirous of ending a. condition of
.nars which he believed contrary to
american ideals Of fair play .
Put he showed bad judgment in try.
ing 70 create public scandal and
censure" W o'"eSe' 'eo
me Mobile Register (democratic) is
co o. 90 cement. The affair will not be
S:.onpIeted to the public's SATISFACTION ;,
It asserts. until the man rrenonsih;e
account e"' SHARPLY 10
me suite Miner (democratic) agrees
Inat the ancusers of the marines in
re1a;a deserve scathing censure" but it
IsJoIces IN the exoneration in which che
charges have been swept awav2 result
,ng IN another splendid triumph for
Aetner'canisn" In clearing the record
OF the marines, the st. Louis POST Dis
pAtch independently declares. 'the hon
ia 10 OF Ui,s 5ne United States in the matter
name which the Marine corns sb bas
eaTned IN many fields is not stained.
OUT enhanced by its Haitian record
me suggestion of "a distinct aroma
on politics about the matter" which the
III Paso Times (democratic) makes is
inquired by the Nashville Tennesseean
independent democratic) into a frank
opinion that the "slanderous charges
were only attempts to strike the VIII
son administration over the shoulders at
the marines and with the facts in the
case established they will be allowed
70 rest IN the cemetery of outworn cam
ont democratic) also takes the position
mat these charges were used. at any
rate, TO help along the CAMPAIGN" n q
ooes the New York World (democratic1
put the Louisville Post (democratic) in
terprets IT rather as professional than
Z pontical affair. in which Gen. Bar
nett misrepresented the Marine Corps
exactly as Admiral Sims misrepresented
the Navy
While the report is, in effect, "a GEN.
sure OF Gen. Barnett" it does not dis
pose Of the question of the justice of
our rule IN Haiti" the New York Even
ing Post independently holds. and since
AL that We have had thus far are OBJ
vioussy biased and extreme charges and
omci&i dentals." it is apparent that
nothing short Of a congressional in
vestigation can get at the facts"
pendent) believes that "while the
marines are acquitted Of any grave
misconduct" 1t is advisable for a con-
greesional committee to go into the
matter more thoroughly. especially
to satisfy those who think profess
sional pride and esprit de corps in
te1ere with an investigation by a
naval or military body into charges
rejecting upon the service to which
its own members belong"
There is still too much left unex-
plaiped. in the opinion of the New
York Globe independently. and the
Navy Departments ceremonious ex-
oneration of itself cannot be accented
as settling the question" This the
st. Louis Star independently seconds.