The Washington times., 1922-02-25
Sly TAR IN
MESHES Of.
ARTICLE So.
Seadog Who Had Bombproof
Duty Can Be Disciplined,
Say Brother Officers.

snu approval, ana apparent sup
port of the scheme to perfect q
nationwide propaganda organiza-
ton to boost him for elevation to
the rank of admiral, as disclosed
by the Hearst newspapers. make
the Canadian-born officer amenable
again to discipline by the Navy
Department, it was stated by naval
authorities today.
UNDER ARTICLE s5.
Sims offense comes especially
under Article 95 of the printed reg
uiations OF the navy, 1t was ex-
planned. This article provides that
no officer Of the navy shall seek
legislation of any kind from Con.
gress except with the consent and
knowledge Of the Secretary of the
Navy" Sims could be elevated
only by a special act Of Congress-.
The operations Of Sims and his
friends and agents certainly are
being pushed without the knowl-
edge OF the Secretary Of the Navy
or Assistant Secretary.
VIOLATES ALL PRECEDENT.
Moreover 1t is pointed out that
the object Of the nationwide move
ment to advance the personal in
terests of Sims is to influence a
policy of the navy, and this has
been prohibited personally by all
Secretaries Of the Navy from time
immemorial. Such prohibitions of
interference with policies were is
sued particularly in the time OF
former President Roosevelt as AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy.
Intense indignation at the pur-
pose of the Sims propaganda move
ment and profound disgust with
the methods employed and the ex-
IRENE vanity displayed by the Off
Ger in sanctioning the scheme were
expressed at the Capitol.
The latter feature of the case, It
was pointed out, placed Sims in a
most ludicrous position nni forever
puts an end to any possible chance
he might have had to obtain the
coveted honor.
Those members of the Senate and
House who did not desire to COM
ment on the matter for quotation,
privately were strong in condemna-
ton of the whole scheme. Many
suggestions were heard that II was
properly a matter for the Navy De-
partment to look into to determine
whether or not Sims had been
guilty of conduct unbecoming an
officer Of the navy.
DENNY SEES END OF 1T.
Secretary DENLY declined to take
seriously Sims aspiration to hold
the rank which has BON bestowed
upon only three officers in the en-
tire history Of the navy-Farragut,
Porter and Dewey. The Secretary
explained that. Of course. he was
not advised officially as to the facts
and, therefore, could not make any
statement, but he added:
IF something should develop
demanding consideration, atten-
ton will be given to It."
Secretary DENLY thought the fall
ure of the Sims representative, as
disclosed in the published CORE
spondence, to obtain his approval OF
the proposed promotion would be an
excellent place to drop the matter.
The opinion OF the navy chiefs is
that the action of Sims certainly
brings him within the prohibition OF
the ninety.fifth article.
Sims brother officers feel his
newest case ought to be taken up
vigorously by the department, 30
that a dangerous precedent may not
ne established. Their view is that
there should, in fact, be no such
discrimination allowed as that
evidently being taken voluntarily
by Sims.
SIMILAR MEASURES OPPOSED.
Officers at the department pointed
out that even though Sims was the
commander-in-chief Of the American
naval forces in European waters
during the war, he occupied a bomb
proof desk job, while the work OF
danger and trouble and toll was done
by Rodman, Gleaves. Wilson and
Strauss.
Members OF the Naval Affairs
Committees Of the Senate and House
recalled the effort of the Wilson
Administration to get through bill
making Sims and Rear Admiral Ben
son full admirals. The measure
passed the House, but died in the
Senate. The Senate Naval Affairs
Committee first amended the bill to
create three vice-admirals, instead OF
two admirals, and added Rear Ad-
mirall Mayo to the list to be elevated
to this honor. Opposition, particu-
larly to Sims, however, grew 80
strong that IL soon was realized any
attempt to get the measure through
the Senate would be futile.
, Members OF the House Naval AZ
fairs Committee said today that aft
er the House had passed the bill,
many members learned to regret
their vote in favor OF II and there
was con siderable talk OF withdrawing
the bill from the Senate to recon-
slider and kill 1t. Assurances from
the Senate that II had no chance to
pass made the latter action unneces-
sary.
JOHNSON SEES HUMOR IN 1T.
The attention OF Senator Hiram
johnson of California was called TO
the letter from John l.. Leighton,
travelling agent of the Sims propa-
ganda campaign, to William How
ard Gardiner. in New York, in which
leighton reported Charles S. Wheel
err, OF San Francisco, as having
stated he could influence Senator
johnson TO favor hill making Sims
an admiral. The California Senator
made this comment:
The writer OF the letter Is an
unconscious humorist. have
never met him that am aware
OF. but would really enjoy seeing
him. ! have never met Sims and