Evening star., 1921-05-18
BY JOSEPHVS DANIELS.
Former Secretary of the Navy.
ARTICLE "a

Every man can qualify as an expert
on one thing.
think it will be admitted that I can
qualify on critics and criticism. For
more years than | confess to. as
writer and editor. / have had my
crack at public officials from the low
est to the highest. And since March
4. 1921, am doing business in the old
way at the old stand. If you doubt
it subscribe to the Raleigh News and
Observer and see if my pen has lost
its critical faculties.
For eight years as Secretary of the
Navy | had the opportunity IN punhS
office to try many of the doses hao
as editor compounded for oftlcehoio-
ers. Almost from that day alter my
name was on the pay rool at WASH :
ington | was the target at "hlch
much criticism was directed
have qualified on criticism. 'hti'
fore. from the outside looking IN ana
from the inside looking out. hold
that to be an expert one must nave
both points of view If YOU nave p'oi
only an editor YOU can be an expert II
vou practice long enough IN poihtihE
out the errors of public othciais- Ana
if YOU are a good editor YOU must
comment upon and criticize ih' VIZ
things that gong on
Sometimes YOU must commend. some
times YOU must condemn. NAY
never Vet known a public official VINO
made. no mistakes. And l haEe heNti
known one who was NOT heiptd ny
constructive criticism. Now. by con-
Structive criticism l do Got mean ap
proyaI. 1t is as much the duty OF an
editor 10 point out and condemn eilos
as ii is to point out ana coiiiihehu
right.
Abuse of officials Reacts.
why don't you answer your critics.
since YOU have such complete
answer" was often asked by my
friends. From March :. 1913, until
March :. 1921. l never stopped TO re-
turn railing for railing or to make
any answer to the deluge of criticism
which at times was directed at me
There is hut one effective answer a
public official can make /" criticism of
his poiicies and that is the answer of
results If in the testing time what ne
has done proves good. his answer is so
convincing that he need make no
statement: if results do not attest tht
worth of his policies. nothing he can
say will change the estimate of the
public As TO abuse. which some per
sons ShoWered at me tObSerVe l say
"at" and not upon" me. for none OF
1t ever touched me). | have learned
in a somewhat varied experience that
DlJttG dlldChS HI INC I'iIS uii ia
upon their authors and help. rather
than hurt. a man in publiCe Office
OF course that reflection gives no
comfort 10 a short-winded man.
"Starboard and Port"
My first official experience with
criticism and ridicule came when I
issued an order that after a certain
date the words ''starboard' and port"
should give way to the terms right"
and left"
Immediately the paragraphers and
cartoonists began to have fun at the
expense of Secretary of the Navy. a
country editor. who had such little
naval terms as to put those nautical
words .starboard" and port in the
discard. 1t was an evidence they
thought. of provincial mind. lack of
knowledge of Seafaring ways. and al
kinds of Il blunder if not crime At
least it furnished accepta BILE copy to
SO represent it. Asked about it, my
only reply was that the order spoke
for itself: that young men coming into
the Navy instinctively knew which
was right and which was left. but
were confused by port and Star
hoard" and the same thing was true
of civilians. And ] let it go at that
one day Il newspaper friend came
into the department and said to me-:
Il have just learned the history of
Npui pcI anu Stdt hbaEu pTutf ABOUT
which you have been criticized and
ridiculed So much. It's beastfy
shame and am going to print the
true story :" that the people Will see
You are NOT responsible" for that
order
Board Is for Change.
But | am responsible for it" ! re-
piled. The truth is. as YOU have
learned. but not from me that the
order was first considered by the gen
erai board before / h-raYue Secretary
OF the Navy, and after a time they
rea cEed the conclusion. only one
member doubling ard re"ISter!ne
dissent. that right and left were
better terms 10 be employed. At the
time they made their decision / had
never 50 much as heard that the Ques-
tjOn WsS under discussion. After
their decision the order was drafted
m the customary way and was pre-
scented !" me in the regular course for
signature.
What IS this?" / asked of the ad-