The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-06-10
by DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Dispatch to the Reformer.)
Copyright 1927.
WASHINGTON, June 10.-Everybody
in the national capital is wondering to-
day what form of punishment, if any, will
be melted out to Admiral Sims for his
speech in London declaring that resolu-
tions of congress on the Irish question
should be ignored because they are infu-
enced by 'jackass votes" in the Ameri-
can electorate.
/ Admiral Sims has been rebuked before
by Republican and Democratic adminis
trations for his indiscreet speeches, but
the reprimands did not. take The
Harding administration is being be-
sieged with indignant petitions asking
that the admiral be punished for his ut
terance. President Harding has taken no
tice of the affair, but prefers to await the
outcome of the cabled request from Secre-
tary DENLY of the navy department to Adj
miral Sims, asking for a statement as to
whether he was correctly quoted. and an
explanation of the speech. The inquiry
is in itself ample proof of disapproval.
IBtlE the nanQltDR OF TllP ~ftflS Sl1ttttH iidS
been made doubly difficult for the Hard
ing administration BECAUSE it lately saw
fit to ignore another indiscretion in the
speech of another American official abroad
Ambassadors George Harvey. The lat
ter told the British people at a public
dinner that Americans did not enter the
war for humanitarian or unSeltiSh pur-
poses. but ito save our-own skins" and he
criticised the United States for not en-
tering the war sooner than II did. This
speech offended a great body Of American
citizens, and particularly many members
Of the American Legion. some of whom
adopted resolutions asking President
Harding to recall the ambassador. So
the Harding administration is confronted
with the problem of muzZling itS officials
abroad or at least quoting their oratorical
impulses. If Sims is rebuked. the move
ment to have Harvey reprimanded will
also be renewed. I'nquestionahly. the
Sims speech has stirred up more of a hor-
nets nest and is regarded here As a much
greater indiscretion than that of Harvey,
but the true inclination of folks here * C.
tell not only Harvey and Sims. but all
American officials abroad. 70 refrain
hereafter from commenting on things that
are likely to rekindle the fires Of partisan
ship and controversy at home. +--
/ Everything was going along nicely here
with respect TO the Irish question when
| Admiral SimsS speech came along. The
administration was free from picketiug
The Irish had not tormented the occupant
of the White House with pleas to recOg-
nize the independence of Ireland. as wa,
the case under the Wilson administration
No resolutions had been forced to the
| front of the calendar in the senate disap
proving the atrocities" in Ireland
in short, everything was peaceful ant
the Harding administration was hoping
things would continue that way. when o
a sudden Admiral Sims revives the entire
controversy and brings the Irish question
TO the doors of the White House again.
Secretary DENLY will be guided by tn,
| President i'm the action he takes and tn,
Irish on this side of the Atlantic will no
be satisfied until Sims is formally ant
sufficiently rPprovcd. Senator McCor
mick and others in congress have made i
plain that they do not intend To let tn
matter drop. Admiral Sims has a Splen
did war record. but has not learned tina
discretion is the better part of yalor. am,
| Judging by the bOldnesS with which h
! has diSregarded previous demands tn
chances are that he will remain Silen
| only for another year or 50 until he is Ol
the retired list, when some more obServa
tons on the Irish question will be forth
coming. The administration can hold hin
IN line for another year only Reyon,
| that he will be free to go to Fnglan
| again. or any where else, and say what h
| pleaSeS.