Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1921-01-05
Ole SPIRIT
ofAMERICA
d A I L Y
EDITORIAL
D / G ES +

|
/ Todays Subject:
! is A NAVAL INQUIRY
SUFFICIENT?
Just why editorial writers should fol-
low political lines in discussing the con
duct of the American Marines in Haiti is
difficult to explain, but the fact is that
whole hearted acceptance Of the report
On the Haitian situation just made Dy
the navy department is confined chlefly
to Democratic papers, while the Repub-
lican press is united in a demand for
congressional inquiry which would be
free from any hint of professional bias.
| Americans were incredulous,' the Phil
adelphia Record lind. DEM recalls,
when they heard, apparently on high
authority, that in Haiti the Marines had
gone cunning for the natives as IL they
son." But these irresponsible and mali
cious rumors" are now "effectually dis
posed Of" the Chicago Daily News
{Ind.) finds, by the unanimous report
of the court of inquiry which has in
veshgated every charge and has return
ed judgment which is "a vindication,"
not in any sense 'whitewash.'
| The investigation, the Atlanta Jour
nal (Dem.) informs US, mot only failed
to substantiate the charge of indiscrim-
mate killings of natives but established
very clearly that it had no basis in fact"
Further, the Newark, IN. j. News,
that the Marines haveN put an end to
indiscriminate killings" General Bar
nett, the Birmingham Age Herald
(Dem.) comedies, may have been sin
cere in his accusations and DESTROYS of
ending a condition of affairs which he
believed contrary to American ideals of
fair play but he showed bad
judgment in trying to create public
scandal and subjecting the Marines to
lister Dem.) is not so lenient. The af
fair will not be completed to the public's
satisfaction" it asserts, until the man
responsible for the charge is brought
sharply TO account" since this is one of
many charges and counter charges and
accusations directed at some Of the
most patriotic endeavers this nation has
ever beheld, and 1t is time ito haul up
and punish those RESPONSIBLE"
The Butte Miner DEM agrees that
1.-The accusers of the marines in Haiti de-
serve scathing censure," but it rejoices
In the exoneration in which ''the charges
have been swept away" resulting in
another splendid triumph for American
ism" In clearing the record of the ma
rines, the st. Louis Post Dispatch lind
declares, "the honor of the United States
IN the matter is indicated. and bite
good name which the marine corps has
earned in many fields is not stained by
its Haitian record
The suggestion Of "a distinct aroma of
politics about the matter" which the FL
Paso Times Dem.) makes is amplified
by the Nashville Tennessean lind. Dem
into frank opinion that the ''slanderous
charges" were "only attempts to strike
the Wilson administration over the
shoulders of the Marines and with the
facts in the case established they will
be allowed to rest in the cemetery of
outworn campaign lies" The Boston
Post lind. Dem.) also takes the position
that these charges were used. at any rate, |
ito help along the campaign" as does the |
New York World !Dem.) but the Louis
vile Post (Dem.) interprets it rather as
professional than Il political affair, in |
which General Barnett misrepresented |
the marine corps exactly as Admiral Sims |
misrepresented the navy"
While the report is, In effect, "a CEN
sure of General Barnett" it does not
dispose of the question of the justice
of our rule in Haiti" the New York Eve |
ming Post (Ind) holds. and since "all
that we have had thus far are obviously
biased and extreme charges and official |
denials' it is apparent that nothing
short of a congressional investigation can
get at the facts" The procedure 50 far
followed in the matter Of investigation
merely sets the train of blocks all I'D
again" says the Buffalo Express lind.
Rep:
"The marines on the ground having
done their duty, the navy department
did its duty and the administration in
general did its duty. 1t IS unnecessary
to inquire into the police and laws and
orders given to the marines. The
marines on the groun1 were made The
goat, and the goat is exonerated."
But the Washington Post Gnd) as
serts that "the matter cannot be white
washed away or covered up in this
way. 1t is for congress. and mot for
q naval court, to pass judgment on this
matter" The Springfield Republican
(Ind.) believes that while the marines
are acquitted Of any grave misconduct
it is advisable for congressional com
mittee to go into the matter more thor
oughly, especially to satisfy those
Who think professional pride and esprit
de corps interfere with an investigation
by naval or military body into charges
rejecting upon the service to which it's
oWll members belong- Inc arSo IN.
D. Courier News Non Partisan !
Lcague) is apparently one of those"
referred to. since it finds only human
nature in the fact that the navy de- Z
partment," after an examination OF it, .
self, has exonerated ITSELF" but it holds !,
that ''the charges against the rule of )
The American army of occupation i'll /,
Haiti are so definite and have had such .
vide circulation that nothing but con :
yressional hearing should be thought of" !
There is still too much left unex- !
blamed, in the opinion of the New York :
Globe Gnd) and the navy departments .
,eremonious exoneration of itself can
lot be accepted as settling the ques- y
ion This The ST. Louis Star (Ind.l
seconds:
''Te Haitian investigation must go on,
+ declares mo matter who is af
ected, no matter how it shames our
'ountry. the truth must be known about r
'ur Haitian policy. And the issue, let n
Is state again, is not the conduct OF Z
members Of the American marines. The n
marines cannot be made the scapegoat \
# the government, the navy department, a
r the commanding officers in Haiti. e
We are leading nation to nationA huge