Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-09-13
Britannica Gale Ex-Sec-
retary of War Inade-
quate
FRIENDS TO DEFENSE
General Pershing Among
Those Who Resent the
lnSinuatiOnS

New York, Sept, 13.-ResGntment
over the scathing biographical article
on Newton D. Baker appearing in
new supplementary volume of the
Encyclopaedia Britannica has
aroused friends of the former secre-
tary of war to make vigorous protest
to the editors of the work against
what is regarded as a slanderous mis-
representation of his career.
Scores of letters from eminent men
associated with Mr.. Baker during the
war or familiar with his public life,
some of them politically or other
wise unsympathetic toward him, have
reached his former secretary, Ralph
Hayes, now an official of the Motion
Picture Producers and Distributors
of America, expressing indignation.
Several Of the writers also have pep
tested to Hugh, Chisholm, of London,
editor in chief, and Franklin H.
Hooper, New York editor, asking for
revisions.
So far the editors have declined to
make any changes, Mr.. Chisholm re-
plying that the matter rested entire
ly with the New York editor, and Mr..
Hooper defending the article in its
present form as representative of the
Judgment of its editors"
The article is of less than 200
words-contrasting with one in the
next column devoted to Arthur James
Balfour which is ten times as long
and begins by referring to Mr.. Baker
as an american politician" Mr..
Balfour is described as British
statesman" After a bare recital of
the leading facts and dates in Mr..
Bakers life, the article relates his
war record as follows:
"After the outbreak of the world
war he endorsed the administrations
peace policy, supported the League
to Enforce Peace, and urged that the
national guard be tried fully before
compulsory service be decided upon.
After America entered the war he
recommended moderation toward
conscientious objectors and forbade
men in uniform to interfere with
anti-conscription meetings.
Charge of 'Pacifism."
"The charge of pacifism was often
brought against him, and his career
generally as secretary was widely
condemned throughout the United
States as lacking in energy, fore
sight and ability, and especially for
his failure to prepare adequately IN
the months Immediately preceding
the American declaration of war"
Pershing Defends Him.
This concluding paragraph partlc-
ularly provoked Mr.. Bakers friends
among them General Pershing, Bish-
ON Charles H. Brent, of the Episcopal
diocese of western New York, who
was chief of the chaplain service
during the war; General Hugh L.
Scott former chief of staff; Briga-
der General Frank 7. Hines, chief OF
TRANSFORMATION service in the war;
R. Stettinius, part OF j. +.
Morgan & Co., who had charge Of all
purchases; Harry A. Car
field nresident of Williams college
and former federal fuel administra-
tor; julius Rosenwald, who under
took several war missions for the
and who, as president OF
Sears. Roebuck & Co., represents the
principal American distributors ot
the Encyclopaedia Britannica ana
many others, including prominent
business men and university profes-
sors. -
Referring "a the article as "unfor.
tunate, certainly unfair" General