Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-12
BRYAN THINKS PAPERS
EXPRESS EXTREME VIEWS
Believes Most of People Interested
Solely In Protecting Ameri-
can Rights.
HE DISCUSSES LusITANIA NOTE
Says any Step President May Take to
Keep U. S. Citizens Out of Danger
Zone, or Separate Passengers From
Contraband, Will BE Approved.

| LOS ANGELES. July 11.-wuliam
Jennings Bryan, former Secretary Of
state, Issued a statement tonight in
which he said that editorial comment
on Germany's reply to the American
Lusitania note represented the ex-
tremes Of sentiment, but that he be-
iieved most of the people we're inter-
ested solely in protecting America n
rights and that they would heartily
approve any steps the President NAV
| see Mt to take to keep Americans out
| OF the danger zone or separate pas
sengers from contraband, especially
ammunition"
1T is not sacrifice of rights TO
avoid unnecessary risks" Mr.. Bryan
declared.
The former secretary's statement fol-
| lows:
Il have not had an opportunity to
read many editorials in full, but I have
read extracts from a number of edi-
torials as they have been reproduced
in San Francisco and Los Angeles
papers. In selecting editorials for re-
production everything depends on the
Judgment exercised in making the Sc
lection.
1t is improper TO judge from the
few which have been reproduced what
general sentiment is. and l am afraid
that those 1 have read represent the
two extremes rather than the average
sentiment The bias of the editor or
publisher must always be borne in
mind when one reads an editorial. he
cause tho bias largely determines the
tone Of the comment.
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
NEUTRAL IN FEELING
I'VE have in this country a number
Of newspapers which strongly eympa-
thize with the allies, and also num-
ber OF newspapers which strongly sym
pathize with Germany--but the great
majority of the people are neutral in
feeling as we'll as in expression. and
do not take the extreme views repre-
sented by either Of the groups above
mentioned
ITO illustrate what I mcan-if you
will read tho papers which strongly
sympathizc with the allies you will
find that, either Intentionally or un-
Intentionally, they urge our govern
ment to pursue a course which would
be helpful to the allies and injurious
to Germany. The papers that strongly
sympathize with Germany on the other
hand. urge a course which would be
helpful to Germany and hurtful to the
allies Each side, influenced quite
naturally by It's sympathies, so defines
national honor as to carry out it's
views
The mass OF the American people,
however. If l know their sentiments,
arc interested solely in protecting
American rights and in preserving neu-
trality. The pro-ally papers want this
government to stop the submarine war;
fare. and the pro-German papers want
us to put an embargo on arms and
ammunition: but as neutral nation
we have no more right to interfere in
the interests of the allies than we have
to interfere in the interest Of Germany.
Each individual may have his
opinion as TO the inhumnnity Of
drowning or starving noncombntants.
but it is not our business as a neutral
nation to attempt to regulate the
methods employer by the belligerents
In dealing with each other, except in
sofar as we find 1t necessary to do
so to protect American rights or can.
by our good offices, influence them to
moderate their conduct toward each
other.
"I believe that n large majority of
the people will heartily approve OF any
step that the President may see 1T to
take to keep Americans out of the
danger zone or separate passengers
from contraband. especially from am
munition. 1t Is not n sacrifice OF
rights to avoid unnecessary risks"