The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-07-15
Views
on Press Comment
Declares That Editorial Remarks On
German Reply Represent Ex-
tremes Of Sentiment

am ]. Bryan, former secretary OF
state declared in a statement issued
tonight that editorial comment on
Germany's reply to the American Lu-
.sitania note represented the extremes
OF sentiment but that he believed the
majority of the people were Interested
solely in protecting American lives,
and that he would heartily approve
OF any steps the president may see fit
to take to keep Americans out of the
danger zone or separate passengers
from contraband and especially am
munition. 1pA "r ~ ~ 'a'W'a
ut is not sacrifice OF rights to
avoid unnecessary risks he deelar.
ed. ,.. ......,...
Mr.. Bryan arrived with Mrs. Bry.
an from San Francisco for brief stay
with their son, William ]. Bryan Jr.,
and his family at Hermosa Beach.
Bryan's Statement
Mr.. Bryan's statement follows:
Il have not had an opportunity to
read many editorials in full, but l
have read extracts from q number Of
editorials as they have been repro
duced in San Francisco and Los An
geles papers. In selecting editorials
for reproduction, everything depends
on the judgment exercised in making
the selection.
at is improper to judge from the
few which have been reproduced what
the general sentiment is, and l am
afraid that those which 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, because the bias largely de-
termines the tone of the comment.
I'VE have in this country number
of papers which strongly sympathize
with Germany-but the great major
ity of the people are neutral in feel
ing as well as in expression, and do
not take the extreme views repre-.
scented by either of the groups above
mentioned.
ITO illustrate what mean If you
will read the papers which strongly
sympathize with the allies you will
find a course which would be helpful
to the allies and injurious to Ger
many; the papers that strongly sym
pathize with Germany on the other
hand. urge a course which would be.
helpful to Germany and hurtful to the
allies Each side, influenced quite nat
urally by its sympathles so defles ma
tional honor as to carry out its views.
The mass of the American people,
however If | know their sentiments,
are interested solely in protecting
American rights and in preserving
neutrality. 1t is just as unneutral for
the pro-ally papers to ms st upon our
helping the allies as it unneutral for
the pro'German papers to insist upon
our helping Germany. The proally pa.
pers want this government to stop
the submarine warfare, and the pro
German papers want us to put an en-
barge 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 interests of Grmany.
Each individual may have his opin.
ion at the inhumanity of drowning or
starving noncombatants, but It is not
our business. as neutral nation. to
attempt to regulate the methods en-
ployed by the belligerents in dealing
with each other, except IN so far as
we find it necessary to do so to pro-
tect American rights, or can, by our
good offices, influence them to other.
81 believe that large majority of
the people will heartily approve OF
any steps that the president may see
fit to take to keep Americans out of
the danger zone or separate passeng-
ers from ammunition, II is not a
sacrifice Of rights to avoid unneces-
sary risks.
Mr. and Mrs, Bryan arrived early
today They went to the summer cot.
tage where William j. Bryan Jr., q
deputy United States district attorney
at Tucson, Arizona, had installed his
family a short time ago.
Mr.. Bryan's two older granddaugh
ters, Mary, aged IL years, and Hell
en-, aged 4, were first to greet the
former secretary. Next came baby
Elizabeth Bryan, aged 6 months, in
the arms OF nurse. It was the first
time that Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan hat
seen this grandchild.