The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-12
Holds Press Comment Reflects
Extreme Opinion.
Majority of People Seek Only to
Preserve Neutrality.
WAR RISKS, He URGES
Would Separate Passengers
From COntraband.
No Sacrifice of Rights to Avoid
Unnecessary Danger.

| Los Angeles, Cal, July 12.-Will1am
j. Bryan, former secretary of state,
declared in a statement issued last
night that editorial comment on Ger
many's reply to Americas note rep
resented the extreme of sentiment, but
he believed the majority of the peo-
pie were interested solely in protect
ing American rights and that they
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 con-
traband, especially ammunition"
Two Extremes Represented.
The text of Mr.. Bryan's statement
follows:
few editorials which have been re-
produced what the general sentiment
| is, and I am afraid that those which
1 nave read represent the two ex-
tremes rather than the average senti-
ment.
I'VE have in this country a number
of newspapers which strongly sympa-
thize with the allies and also num-
Der of papers which strongly sympa-
thize with Germany-but the great
majority of people are neutral in feel
| ing, as well as in expression, and do
not take the extreme views presented
| by either of the groups 1 have men
toned. To illustrate what I mean:
If you will read the papers which
strongly sympathize with the allies,
you will find that either Intentionally
or unintentionally, they urge our gov
eminent to pursue course whlch
would be helpful to the allies and in
furious 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.
Masses for Neutrality.
Each side, Influenced quite nat
hui defines
national honor as to carry out its
views. The mass of the American
people, however, If know their senti-
ments, are interested solely in protect
ing American rights and in preserving
neutrality. 1t is just as unneutra1 for
the pro-ally papers to insist upon our
helping the allies as it is unneutral
for the pro-German papers to insist
upon our helping Germany. The pro-
ally papers want this government to
stop the submarine warfare, and the
pro-German papers want us to put an
EN- barge an arms and ammunition, but
as a neutral nation we have no more
right to interfere in the interest of
the allies than we have to interfere in
the interest of Germany.
Now Fer-BusinesS.
Each individual may have his
opinion as to the humanity of drown
ing or starving non-combarants, but
it is not our business, as a neutral
nation, to attempt to regulate the
methods employed by the belligerents
in dealing with each other. except In
sofar as we find it necessary to do so
to protect American rights or can, by
our good offices, influence them o
moderate their conduct toward each
other
IT believe that n large majority of
the people will heartily approve any
steps the president may see fit to take
to keep Americans out of the danger
zone or to separate passengers from
contraband, especially from ammuni-
ton. 1t is not a sacrifice of rights to
avoid unnecessary risks"