The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
"BARBARISM!"
SOCIALIST CRY
IN REICHSTAG
German Measures in Alsace
and Russia Cause Stormy
scene.
GOVERNMENT DEFENDS
PRESS CENSORSHIP
Special Correspondence to Tnr sux.

thN war began TOOK place several days
aso when three Socialist Deputies.
i~dsbour, Liebknecht and Count
Prsschma. launched q vitriollc attack
upon the Government. meeting the unani-
nous and equally as vitriolc opposition
o. the leaders OF all other parties and
cf par OF their own faction.
The chief spokesman Of the Socialist
insurgents was Ledebour. He called
tho censorship "p-eposterous." and said
n was discriminatory toward the Social
fat press He termed 'monst rosity" the
order OF the military authorities OF Al
eace-Iorrsine At the outbreak Of the
war forbdding tho use OF French IN
certain places This order. he said,
drove many Germans into the ranks OF
the French army. The climax of his at-
tack came when he criticised the army
administration for ordering tho burning
OF Russian towns In reprisai for the
ssck,ne Of East Prussian villages by the
Coassoks.
"Barbarisml" cried Ledebours COL
ieaxue. the famous TAebknecht, and
within another minute the entire House
vu IN an uproar Licbknecht was called
20 ORDER, and Ledebour was forbidden TO
cr,ticise military measures. A transla-
ton OF the stenographtc report Of the
ssea.on follows
Deputy Stadthaecn tsocalist). after
vrotest,ng against the continuation OF
ths state OF siege" in Germany. dis
putinR It's legality, launched into a frank
criticism OF the Government's attitude
toward the Socialist press during the
war.
For what earthly reason does the
Government persist In issuing suspension
DEGREES against newspapers said he.
"such DEGREES are illegal now. In
Xoenigsberg paper was suspended be-
cause IL had termed the victory over the
Russians one for universal suffrage and
the coalition right. Docs such an asser-
t,op represent a menace 20 public safety?
Errors Of Csnsors.
~ln many cases the authorities have
admitted the errors OF tho censors but
Why do these errors always occur 10 the
disadvantage OF the Socialist party?
The censorship IL supposed TO apply
solely 10 military questions. In reality.
however. there exists a political censor
ehip which Is being conducted one
ededly against Social Democracy. We
protest against this state Of affairs"
Here the deputy submitted large
stack Of protests and complaints BY the
vor,coerts, the Socialist party organ.
with regard to alleged discriminatory
orders and DEGREES by the censors. These
measures. ne said. are only apt to dis
credit Germany'e prestige abroad.
Even the campaign against liars ana
sv'ndlers has been continually Eampered
BY the censor's blue pencil IN the Vor-
noertSs columns said he. This II a
campaign essentially In the interest Of
pubic safety. Something must Be done
TO change this state Of affairs.
Our nation Ia of age and needs no
esnsorship-and most certainly no po-
lice censorship"
Deputy Haussmann (Progressive) -
I'VE can give tho German press-and
am including the Socialist press-thc
testimonial that II has fulfilled Its task
IN these grave days in manner that
deserves the highest appreciation.
ut il only natural that the Officers
entrusted with the handling OF the CEN
sorehip, men who In time OF peace are
fortunately distant from the world Of
politics. had some difficulty In the dis
charge Of their new duties. That alon'
explains the lack Of uniformity and
equality in the handling of the censor
ship and the exaggerated measure 81
seal that doubtless has been displayed
In some individual cases.
IN order to prevent these mistakes
members Of tho press have been con-
suited in several instances and the com
plants ceased subsequently,
RESTRICTIONS Needed.
'srhe seriousness OF our time ana.
above all, the tendency OF our enemies
toward lies and distortions demand II
that certain restrictions be Imposed upon
our press.
The last order by Gen. Joffre II the
worst violation against objective truth
one could image. You know what II
ea,d In that order about the treatment
Of French officers. while We had occa-
sion only Yesterday to convince our
selves Of the real truth. Deputy Ablass
has told me he would have been happy
n, at the time Of his captivity in
Russia no had had the treatment that
IA accorded to me French prisoners a,
poeberits.
"Joffre'e order speaks OF women and
Rirls that have been outraged. We Will
Say In reply that At present thsre 10
only one woman In France that Is being
outraged. and that Ia Dame Truth. This
lying crase on the part OF our enemies
should Be remembered By the protesting
Socialist Deputies.
1T ID not At all true that our prcss
h Mfree. There exists merely natural
seafrestriotion which must be observed
by the press in the interest OF the ma
tonsl welfare. II individuals break this
kind Of self-control then II is the right
d ths entirety to take preventive
Wepa
Tho Socialists wish that tho press
ensurship be confined to strictly mill
my afairs. AZ present all affairs are
military affairs. All important Ques-
tons may exert an influence upon the
Nr
Take ths war loan. for instance ID
That civil proposition or N II a mill
tary ono,
III there wers in Germany an ole
ment AntatinS against the war loar
th's element and its propaganda would
nurt the military interests Therefore
'hs leewAy Of the press must necessarily
% drawn tighter than in the norma
times Of peace.
livery individual must exercise thu
virtue Of self-control That 10 true a..
peodally with regard to tho discuSsio
~ ow Aims and purposes after the war
IN this discussion neither excessive GU
p'o'ty nor an excess OF absolute alb
wuhance must have room. Either cx
oems would g1vs the enssny an advan'
Time for Caution.
- ~ would choose this stage Of I'M
9sme 70 declare that this war 10 u
cause no changes Whatsoever In the ter
ntor'al face OF tho German Empire W.
would commit ourselves of the creates