The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-12
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

Washington. - Disclosures of the
Won Bernstorff intriguing against the
good of this country have brought
sharply to mind what are now known
to have been the German ambassadors
attempts to use the press of the United
States to further his ends. 1t was
only occasionally that he succeeded in
deceiving the correspondents who
called upon him at the embassy, but
occasionally, try as they would, they
were unable to separate entirely the
subtle propaganda stuff put out by the
count from the material which was
actual news of the day.
Some time prior to the breaking of
relations with Germany Secretary Lam
sing in talking to group of men said
that he knew that things he said were
taken at once to the German embassy.
He also said that he knew the men
who were engaged in this practice and
he warned them against the continu-
ance of the tale bearing. What Mr..
Lansing said at that time checked the
activities of a few irresponsibles who
had no realizing sense of the duty of
holding confidential things which were
disclosed to them in the order of the
daily work.
Probably most people will remember
that some time prior TO the breaking
of diplomatic relations with Germany
a story was printed to the effect that
Secretary of State Lansing @ntended to
resign 1t may be that people viii
not remember the original story, but
probably will remember the denial of
It which came sharp and quick from
the state department.
Started Lansing Resignation Rumor.
This resignation story perhaps as
well as anything else will show the
American people how the German am
bassador tried TO create trouble in this
country i'm subtle ways. One day
when several newspaper correspond
ents were at the Won Bernstorff head
quarters to obtain the embassy's news
of the day, the count claimed to have
"an inside tip" that Mr.. Lansing was
about to resign and as one of the cor
respondents who was present on that
occasion now puts II, 'he sought to
have us print it for all that 1t was
worth"
II is perhaps tribute to the shrewd-
ness of most of those who were pres
ent that day to say that all of them
except one had suspicion that the
German ambassador was trying to put
something over which would injure the
American secretary of state and there
fore the well-being of this country In
q critical time.
With one sole exception the news
paper men present refused to print the
"tip." One of them, however, did
print ii and the result was that 1t be-
came necessary for Mr.. Lansing TO is
sue an official denial from the state de-
partment Of any intention on his part
to resign. OF course when story
like this is printed not everybody reads
the denial. 1t is hard to overtake lie
with the truth and so IL was that Won
sign to stir up trouble for the admin
istration and, therefore, at that criti-
cal time. for the American people
Ii is the American dislike of secret
maneuvers which made it possible for
Won Bernstorff and his fellow conspira-
they received daily concerning the
deeds and the intentions of the various
departments of the American govern
ment. 1t must be remembered of
course, that these happenings were In
the days before this country had de-
clared war against Germany. Since
war has been declared greater secrecy
naturally has been maintained con-
cerning the doings Of the governmental
departments.
Got information Easily
Won Bernstorff found out generally
all that he wanted to know about what
government officials had said concern
ing this thing or that thing, for there
was no great attempt In those days to
hide things under a bushel. From the
German embassy there were running
many paths leading to places where in
formation might be obtained Into the
German embassy went athe gossip Of
the day and out OF the gossip Won
Bernstorff succeeded in getting many
golden grains of information.
In addition to this source of inf0r-
nation there were some men and
women in Washington, entirely sympa-
thetic with the German cause as
against the allies at that time, who,
not realizing that they were injuring
their own country by enabling the Ger
man ambassador to secure material for
propaganda, learned everything that
they could at dinners, at receptions, on
the. street and. elsewhere and then