The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-10-22
AT THE EDGE OF THE WAR
Brooklngs Register Bureau. Washington. DC
(By J. e. Jones)
Nou- VorE Cttv October 10


There are the same eager crowds in
front of the newspaper Offices as
there were a month ago when wrote
my first letter from here. Morning.
noon. evening or midnight makes
no difference at Times or Herald
Square. as many OF these people who
scar the boards: and buy up the
Extras for news. have brothers and
fathers engaged in this deadly strug-
gle that is COINS On in Europe, and the
very scenes OF the worlds greatest
battles are on the identical ground
where mans OF these people We meet
here spent their childhood
At Washington war is an economic
condition that must De met in such a
way as 10 entail the smallest possible
burden on the American people-in
New York war is a real tragedy that
not only affects the lives and happiness
of a great portion OF the citizens of
the metropolis. but it demoralizes bus
mess as well.
The V%aterland, greatest ship in the
world. is still the center of a big group
Of German boats that have remained
tied TO their docks since the last of
July: and while German commerce re-
mains at a ~standstill British cruisers
have been maintaining a blockade of
the port of New York.
AS time goes on the public is in
clined to take a more dispassionate
view of events, and in consequence
there is less talk of the brutality of
soldiers al the front, since it appears
to have been determined that what
ever complaint there might have been
on that score, relates to individual in.
stances and the French and English
here have ceased TO %reproach the Ger
mans and Austrians; while in turn the
Germans and Austrians are willing to
admit in talking with the French and
English that the earlier reports con-
corning these matters were greatly
exaggerated. They all agree that war
is hell but the day of mud-slinging
among the non-combatants has grown
quite as unpopular, as did the same
methods in early political campaign.
ing in the United States.
There was a time in the history of
great corporations when they answer
ed the public with the curt reply:
I'VE have nothing to say" Strangely
enough this unwise policy is being fol-
lowed by the countries at war. Ger
many gets through a meager 200 words
a day by wireless. The remaining
dispatches must all come by way of
England, since one of the first acts of
the war was the cutting of the Ger
cables. England censors not only
its own news, but American editors
charge that government with even 60
ing to the extent Of holding up the
the news Of a German victory for ten
days.
1t Is said the Associated Press has
filed a statement with the English
government characterizing the censor
ship as a blot on civilization" In
the twentieth century the people
the news, good or bad; and the
resentment in New York against the
policy of a number of papers in their
e%xtravagant and untruthful claims for
the Allies, is reflected in the adveris-
Ing cards Of the New York Evening
Post, in the street cars. which read:
Don't waste your time reading mar
ufactured "a news" The press has
failed to receive the real news of the
war, and the censorship Is almost en-
tirely to blame. This absence of relia-
BILE news has given the manufactured
war news" its opportunity, and James
Gordon Bennett, whose illustrious
established the New York Her
aid, has spent his life abroad and is
outdoing Europe in the character
Of news" which his papers are sup
The stories Of barbarity and
savagery on the part Of troops has
been a fertile field for the magma
tive artists who have been doing space
copy for a brand Of publications
more r~epresensible than any of the
journals" Of former days
since they do not show evidence of
telling the people the truth.
The Washington government pre-
American bankers from max
ing a war loan to France, thus en-
phasizing that we are neutral, and
need our gold as well. Much has been
said about the damage inflicted upon
foreign commerce; but that 1t is an i'll
wind that blows no good Is indicated
by the fact that the guns and ammuni-
ton business Is booming on this SIDE
Of the water, and the Allies are crowd
Ing the American manufacturers to
the limit. The Bethlehem Steel
Works has received a $4,000. 900 order