Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-12
MR. BRYAN DISCUSSES
T. REPLY OF THE. KAISER
Believes People Will Approve Any
Steps President May Take
in Controversy.

LOS ANGELES, July 1l.-WHudIH y.
Bryan, formerly Secretary of State. is
sued a statement last night in which he
said that editorial comment on Germanys
reply to the American Lusitania note
represented the extremes Of sentiment, but
that he believed the majority Of the people
were interested solely in protecting Amer
lean rights and that they would heartily
approve any steps the President may see
fit to take to keep Americans out Of the
danger zone or separate passengers from
contraband. especially ammunition"
ut is not a sacrifice Of rights to avoid
unnecessary risks" he declared.
Mr.. Bryan came with Mrs. Bryan from
San Francisco to visit William ]. Bryan,
jr., at Hermosa Beach.
Text of the Statement.
Mr.. Bryan's statement follows:
II have not had an opportunity to read
many editorials in full. but I have read
extracts from a number of editorials as
they have been reproduced in San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles papers. In select
ing editorials for reproduction everything
depends upon the judgment exercised in
making the selection.
"It is improper to Judge from the few
sentiment is. and 1 am afraid that those
which have read represent the two ex-
tremeS rather than the average senti-
ment. The bias Of the editor or publisher
must always be borne In mind when one
reads an editorial. because the bias
largely determines the tone Of the COM
ment
I'VE have in this country a number
Of newspapers which strongly sympa-
thize with the allies. and also num-
t,A- yxyhf rh str or Nv nm
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-
scented by either of the groups above
mentioned.
Analysis Of Editorial Comment.
ITO illustrate what mean: If you
will read the papers which strongly
sympathize with the allies you will
find that, either Intentionally or unin-
ltentionally. they urge our government
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
national honor as to carry out its
views.
THE mass Of the American people
however, II know their sentiments are
| interested solely in protecting American
rights and in preserving neutrality. II
Is just as unneutral for the pro-ally
papers to insist upon our helping the
| allies as 1t is unneutral for the pro-Ger
| man papers to insist upon our helping
| Germany. 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 am.
| munttion: but as neutral nation We
| have no more right to interfere in the
| interest Of the allies than we have te
interfere in the interest Of Germany.
Duty Of Neutral Nation.
Each individual may have his opinion
as to the inhumanity Of drowning OF
starving non-combatants. but 1t is not
our business as q neutral nation to at
tempt to regulate the methods employed
by the belligerents in dealing with each
other, except in so far as we find It nee
essary to do so to protect American
| rights or can. by our good Offices, in.
huence them to moderate their conduct
| toward each other.
Il believe that a large majority Of the
people will heartily approve Of any
| steps that the President may see At tc
| take to keep Americans out Of the dan.
ger zone or separate passengers from
| contraband, especially from ammuni.
| ton. It is not q sacrifice Of rights .te
| avoid unnecessary risks"