The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1915-06-19
f0RYAN AND GERMAN-AMERICANs
Is w. B. Playing Shrewd Political
Game? Neutrality Of United
States Must be Maintained.


Former Secretary Of State Bryan
has done a distinct service TO the
country by his timely and clear let
ter TO the 0erman-Americans. For
quite a while the feeling has been
growing that the administration was
favoring the allies. SO bitter had the
feeling become that an effort was
being made TO line up a German
american sentiment against the pres
ident with view to his defeat in
1916, should he be the democratic
nominee. Letters have been sent
from the s"Fatherland," German
American publication, TO German
Americans in every part of the coun
try asking how many of them voted
for Wilson, and how many votes
the Cerman-Americans could in
nueaee in the next election
All Of this was because the presi-
dent would not undertake TO stop
the shipment of ammunition TO the
allies. MIR. Bryan shows clearly why
such shipments cannot be hindered
during the existance of the war. One
cannot change international law now.
To do so would amount to hostility
to Gpeat Britain, France, Russia and
Italy, nations which did not accum-
ulate munitions in peace, as Ger
many did
The right to sell munitions of war
to belligerents is well recognized
specifically SO in the treaty be-
tween this country and Germany.
Germany has sold artillery, rifles
and ammunition freely in every
modern war-sold them to Spain
while the Spanish-American war
was in progress and the United
States entered no protest because
to have done so would have been to
protest against a well-established
principle of international law. Ger
many would sell munitions now TO
any belligereut were she neutral in
stead of bein engaged in war
When the war began, Germany
had a full supply of munitions of the
material on hand for their manu-
facture, and she caught the allies
unprepared. But her advantage was
Offset to some extent by the fact thai
the allies had command of the seas
and could import munitions from
America factories.
Military experts believe that the
Austro-German drive in Gallcia. nov
going on, has succeeded largely be-
cause Russia, her Artic ports shu
of by ice until recently, and hel
long trans-Siberiah railroad lin'
congested by extra burdens put up
on it, has been unable to get muni
tions.
AS Mr.. Bryan points out clearly
1t is no part of the duty of the Unit
ed States as neutral TO give Ger
many the same opportunity to over
come her enemies on her western
front. The markets of the Unite'
States are open to the world. Any
one may buy here if he has tn
money or The credit. That is tru
neutrality. Also as Mr.. Bryan point
out international law cannot b
changed while the war is going OF
To do so would be to put us in tn
attitude of allying ourselves wit
one combatant against another.
Il is TO be hoped that Mr.. Bryan
letter TO German-American citizen
will be understood clearly and tha
il will stop all the foolish talk of
American alliance again'
the president. Hyphenated polite
is wrong always, and generally re
acts upon those who promote it,
AS Felix Martinez pointed out
his commencement address at th
state university some weeks ago, III
effort 10 promote a Spanish-Amer
can influence in New Mexico cann'
be other than ruinous to the Spar
ish-American people in the stat
Should a German-American grOu
be formed against President Wilso
il would solidify all other voters f
him and he would be reelected |
every vote Of the electoral collee
should the men who are trying
from a Spanish-American group
New Mexico succeed TO any DANCE
Gus extent they would merely soli'
ify the Anglo-Ameriean vote again
them, could not hold their own vol
nr.d lhn nas,,Il would he that Ne