THE CABINET: Apologies

Chomping a sizable slice of humble pie, Secretary of War Stimson last week apologized to Senator Wheeler for his “near treason” blast of the week before, admitted that he had gone off halfcocked.

The apology came after Wheeler, on the floor of the Senate, had denied the charge that he had mailed post cards directly to soldiers urging them to protest to the President against U.S. entry into the war.

Not one Senator had risen to defend Stimson. A Senator’s honor had been impugned; “the most exclusive gentlemen’s club in the world” felt itself insulted.

In his apology the Secretary said he no longer believed that the Senator had intended to send his post cards directly to draftees. Said the Secretary: “I am sorry that on the basis of incomplete evidence, I made a statement last week which carried a contrary implication.” Wheeler, readying another blast against Stimson (on the extension of draftees’ terms of service), replied: “I think it was a very decent thing for the Secretary to do.” By that time the Senator had a second Cabinet apology—this one from Secretary of the Navy Knox. Wheeler’s son, Richard, had applied for admission to an officers’ training school. Rear Admiral George Pettengill, commandant of the Washington naval yard, had tried to keep him out after the lad declared he shared his father’s views on war. The case was carried to Knox, who ruled the Admiral out of order, put Son Richard into uniform, apologized to Father Burton.