Graham guardian., 1917-08-31
AUGUST 81. 1917
PUNISH TREASON AS TREASON

PUNISH TREASON AS TREASON
There are senators in Washing
ton who feel that Elihu Root was
guilty of a grave indiscretion
when he said in New York that
there are men walking the
streets of this city who ought to
be taken out at sunrise and
shot," and that there are some
newspapers printed in this city,
the editors of which deserve con-
viction and execution for trea-
son.
If the truth is indiscreet, then
Mr.. Root was indiscreet. but not
otherwise, says the New York
World. The facts are sufficient
to support every word of Mr..
Roots demand, unless we are to
assume that treason is merely a
conventional offense and should
not be regarded seriously.
Since the United States enter
ed the war the German propa-
ganda has been more active and
audacious than it ever was be-
fore. 1t has been compelled to
disguise its operations, but the
disguise on the whole has worked
to its advantage.
Previous to the declaration of
a state of war on the part of con-
gress, immense sums of German
money had been expended in de-
bauching American sentiment,
and it is apparent that the ex-
penditure still continues. In the
case of the Virginia mountain
eers, convicted of treason, the
government produced evidence to
show that one of the prisoners
had boasted that the money that
he was using came from German
agents. Men who were hired
champions of the German cause
previous to April 9Th, are still in
dustrious champions of the Ger
man cause, except that they have
adroitly shifted the issue. New
means have been provided for
giving aid and comfort to the
enemy, but the work is proceed
ing on an unprecedented scale.
Socialism is now one of the
principal agencies of the German
propaganda, and Socialist news
papers, that once struggled for a
bare existence, are fiOurishing as
they never f1ourished before.
The Sim Fein Irish propaganda
is equally prosperous, and the l.
w. w., which is the most notori-
Gus criminal organization in the
world, is carrying on its cam
paign of murder and sabotage
with renewed vigor. Its leaders
are flush with funds for any kind
of an attack they care to make
against American industry.
None of this work is done nom
inally in behalf of Germany. 1t
takes the form of propaganda
against capitalism or against
modern industrialism, or in be-
half of an independent Ireland,
or for peace, but in every in
stance the full force of the con-
spiracy is directed against the
military activities Of the United
States in order to diminish the
power of this country in the
battle against autocracy.
Incidentally all of these Ger
man agencies center around a
pacifist movement which is close
ly connected with them, which
has its spokesmen in congress,
and is used to reach people who
would not be susceptible to So
cialist, Sim Fein, or l. w. w. in
fuences. 1t is all German, and
we have not the slightest doubt
that investigation will ultimately
show that it is bought and paid
for with German money. To a
large extent it is carried on by
the same men who were in the
German service before April 9th.
Mr.. Root was right in what he
said about the necessity for stern
measures in dealing with this
situation. 1t is the duty, not on
ly Of the national government,
but of state and city governments