New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-28
Intern Them!

The Tribune thoroughly approves OF the
roundup Of dangerous aliens when 'he
NAVY Department has undertaken. But
we shall be disappointed if the raids now
nnoer way shall prove to be merely spo-
Sadic-a sop thrown for the minute 10 the
growing public demand for protection
against enemy activities.
What the government did last Wednes-
day night it should keep on doing every
dav and every night for weeks to come
It should not stop until all enemy aliens
now in the country are interned and their
mower TO iniure us through espionage,
sabotage, incerdiariSm, the fermentation OF
labor strikes and the substituting Of pacihst
and anti-draft agitation is ended.
We are at war with Germany. The eX-
istence of a state of war creates an en-
tirelv new status for German nationals
here. They are subject to internment I'M
der the laws of war, and they have GER
family already done enough in the way OF
illicit activity. of conspiracy and espionage
70 prove that their internment IS a mill
tary necessity.
The Tribune has been emphasizing for
months past the lack of prudent restraints
nut upon the enemy within our gates. Ger
man subjects have enjoyed here an almost
incredible latitude Of movement and con.
sideration. They have not been interrupted
In tisir ordinary pursuits. They are al
lowed TO continue their gaintul occupa-
tjons, to participate freely in the nations
business, to have access through banking
insurance and industrial affiliations to all
the secrets Of military preparation. lhey
are permitted to reinsure risks on SNIP
wards and munitions factories. They are
employed to a large extent in the drug
trade and in trades connected with our
food supply.
I'm a statement recently issued by the
government it was admitted that German
spies arc planted everywhere-even IN the
military and naval services. And German
money is also everywhere, doing its work
Of seducing ncutrals, and even cltzeps'
into the Kaiser's service.
Why not go at once to the root OF the
whole trouble? No German here can COM
plain if the American government decides
10 intern him. German tactics III the
limited States from the time the European
war began amply justify such measure
of sclf-protcction. Nor can any German
complain if the United States takes over
his property until the war ends. That Is
fhe normal fate Of an alien resident IN a
country with which his own country IS at
war. We have been over-lenient, over
humanitarian. Let us get back to com
mon sense view Of the relations existing
between us and our resident alien enemies
Let us no longer trust to chance to escape
the injury which German residents mere
have still the power to inflict on u.s.
One of the German subjects selzec
Wednesday night was found to be supplied
with pulverized carborundum. This is usec
TO destroy ball bearings and the finer parts
Of machinery. This particular alien was
employed in a munitions factory. There
must be tens Of thousands of other Ger.
mans who are supplied with similar wreck
ing materials. They viii be a peril so lone
as they are at large. In this city the
Presidents zone proclamation, praise
worthy enough in intent, which barred
enemy aliens from areas where military
work was being carried on, has been deaC
letter from the day II was issued. Enemy
activities cannot be controlled in that hap
hazard manner. The only thing TO do is Il
intern all actual and potential enemies anC
to sequester their property for the period
Of the war.
Then, and then only, we shall be sure o.
tho innocuousncss of the enemies within
our gates, who are eager to betray us t
the enemy outside, and who are nowEork
ing to the best of their ability to disturb
our tranquility and hinder our miltar!
development.
So.ookh..c - Dad