Evening star., 1941-07-31

Somehow or %& s
other the i'm David Lawrence.
preston that once an official takes
q position he must never admit he
ever was mistaken is ingrained To
acknowledge error is held to be
blunder. In politics, the cry is to
claim everything and admit moth.
ing. Yet this very stubbornneSs and
unwillingnesS to apply the rules of
fairness and chivalry that should
prevail are responsible for many OF
the ills in democracy today.
Bitterness and resentment have
too much to do with the handling
Of public policies and particularly
with their administration. The be-
lief has grown up that political diff
ferences constitute a justification Tor
punitive action where public author
itv is exercised This is cardinal
sin in government and unhapplly 1t
does not diminish as government
acquires larger and larger powers
over the citizen.
Secretary Stimson's apology re-
ceals another interesting aspect OF
government. Underlings rush IN
with half-baked information or with
scraps of newspaper dispatches and
Immediately there is a hat-oaKeo
and all TOO briefly considered an
xuer, Much of the irritation and
bad feeling that is stirred up IN
Government circles as between ad-
vocates and opponents OF particular
nolicies arises through lmpulslVe-
ness surrounded by the i'll temper
that comes from excessive work un-
der pressure.
Answer Not Obscured.
The tremendous responslollltleS
imposed on our administrative OIL
fcials nowadays are simply unoe-
Gvable. Under the strain OF Dig
undertakings where judgment ana
knovledee must be combined often
in nuick decisions it is not surprls-
ing that poise is sometimes upset
What is so commendable about Sec
retary Stimson's public statement
admitting that he was lnaoequately
Informed about the post caros WHICH
were received by soldiers is that ne
makes 1t so promptly and so uh-
eo,livocally. Too often retractloHs
are couched in the obscure language
of politics. ~
These are strenuous days IN WaSh-
,npton and the public does not eX-
nect perfection from human oellies
engaged in operating their JOBS on a
dav-by-day basis in the lace o!
wore uncertainties than the Worlo
hos over known. To give creolt 10
others for being sincere and 1or un-
edulterated patriotism even though
they oppose Government poNcles -
rot easv because too often prloe
clumsily gets in the way.
Vet on Capitol Hill there Is
certain good spirit and comraoelle
nothvithstanding the brickbats tnaV
.re often thrown at one announcer Wy
the members in debate. NO sucli
tolerance is to be found in some ol
tbe executive agencies where Iile
.nirit is more of the clasS-coiiSciou0
rarietv which constantly suspects
.tberc of improper motlVe'
with radicals and conservatives
.ompelled to consult one ahoVhel ~
order to get the defense program
,,,,der vav, Washington has seen tne
Na;d test of patriotism applleu'
Dasnite the mutual dlstfuSt 'iiee
.,,isfs and despite the misuse ol
nublic power by those who reSu .,nro l,reO
the law powers that are no! = Vllele' ao
The general accomplishment III eto
nomic lines has been 1ar oeU.ei
tbsn was possible before tne ~ ouC
49, of total war about year ago
criticism Naturally Resented
- is natural that men VINO en-
seovor to do their tasks coiiSclen
.to,,sIy should resent criticism. Inc
tendency on the part OF ofnclaluoin
has alvavs been to suppress raCiiei
than expose. And yet II IS olls W
snnstant exposure of the facts
,onoetimes even inadequate presen
te+ion of the facts-that the "flo1e
t,,,th is finally forced into the open
This is the principal service OF tile
rress in a democracy, and "nne
tbere are those who will not aoiiii'
srror or correct criticism that proves
urfounded. the desire to be talr anu
ohiective with conscientious-mlnoeo
officials grows rather than olmih-
,shes as a guiding policy for those
who want their criticism to De con-
structive.
mistakes are all too many in these
hectic days and this correspondent
hos made his share of them. Maybe
secretary stimson's public apology
will be a challenge to all who deal
with governmental affairs to make
their records equally frank ana
maybe 1t will help to exterminate
Inst a wee bit the troublesome prlde
that has so often prevented con-
fession of error. Secretary Stlm-
sons sportsmanship is mark OF
merit in his long career of public
service.
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