River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-09-27

mind of any American as TO the JUS
tiee of and necessity for this war.
It proves that the German government
was seeking all along TO split US into
factions. by corrupt means of neces-
sary, possibly hoping in time to win
the war in Europe and then humiliate
and subiugate us. He who is not
whole heartedly for the war runs a
grave risk of being suspected of get
ting part of the fifty thousand dol
lars. This is an honest congress, and
| all its members viii resent this insult
to its intelligence and honor"
Whether the state department is in
possession of other evidence indicating
| the ambassadors activities has not
been revealed, but the extraordinary
disclosures already made have fixed
| the belief that agents of the United
States government have collected and
compiled the entire story of German
duplicity and. intrigue and that addi-
tional chapters will be added.
Knew Plan of 4RuthIessness."
The reference to averting war is TAX
en- as an indication that Ambassador
Bernstorff had prior knowledge of his
government s. intention to proclaim a
merciless widespread submarine war
fare and that he was equally confident
| that the United States government
could not be easily placated by mere
| promises. The German announcement
| of its intention to expand it's subma-
rine activities was not made public I'M
| til January 81, when the world was
startled not only by the determination
| to remove all restrictions, but by the
statement that it would become effec-
| tive on the following day. Three days
| later the United States government
had expressed it's disapproval by sever
| ling relations with Germany. -
| That the German ambassador knew
of his governments intention was as
sumed by some officials, although at
| the same time he denied prior knOwl-
I edge and those in close touch with the
embassy were given to understand that
he did not approve the course and
worked to obtain modification.
Small Amount for Bride.
It has not been assumed that the am
bassador actually attempted to bride
or personally influence any member of
+ congress, and doubt that such was his
I purpose Is supported to some extent by
| the comparatively small amount Of
| money he asked. Fifty thousand dol
lars, it was pointed out, would go but
short way toward buying the influence
| Of any congressman. Judiciously ex-
| pended however, it might do much in
| compromising paid agents, such as are
| now known to have belonged to the
elaborate machine Bernstorff had SO
carefully built up for the production
of propaganda and for purposes OF
espionage e. ~ss
a Search Anti-War List
AS soon as news of the Bernstorff
message reached the capitol members
| began hasty search of the files to find
| the names of the men who voted
lnagainst war; While there Was no as
gsertions from anyone that anyone Of
| these members was influenced by Ger
man propaganda or money, yet, it was
pointed out that if such influence was
exerted, and if it had any effect, the
names Of those affected would be
| shown in the lists of those who OPP
| posed the war resolution.
81 was forced to the conclusion some
time ago." Representative Heflin said,
| in discussing the revelations, 'that Ger
many thought we were a cOwardly peO-
| pie and afraid to fight, but I did not
| know that we were corrupt people
and would betray our country for Ger
man gold. .s.a...bf .r-
''The telegram sent by Count Won
~Bernstorff is an admission of the fact
that Germany had a corruption fund in
the United States for the purpose of
carrying on German propaganda.
eff members have acted in suspi-
cious fashion by the Introduction of res
oIutions or bills or by speeches in con-
gress or out OF, congress, that leads to
the conviction that they are not loyal
to this government at this time, they
ought to be investigated, and, if found
guilty, they ought to be expelled from
the floor of this house and from the
/ floor of the senate of the United
States @&'a6 4 so ss''l @5fI''
Es:a'. Propaganda Still Lives. t 14
Senator Husting was one of the. first
to make a declaration after the state
department had made its Spectacular
disclosure IS t'1I If Ky @1fs.ff 1895
'.Although Bernstorff is, gone" he
said, ''the spirit of .Bernstorff still
lives, and 1 trust the department of
Justice and the secret service will go
to the bottom of this thing and that
the organization which has been built
up in this country through the efforts
of the German government will be
rooted out and utterly eliminated.
''This is highly interesting informa-
ton, but 1 am not surprised. myself
have an order for $4,000 to be paid to
a certain publication signed by Bern
storff. s.
1.-THE thing that impresses me, how
+ ever. is that Bernstorf has been gone
L fnr. r,aar7t1aS and vet the DrODaganda