The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1917-06-07
GOVERNMENT TRAILS
DOWN FOREIGN SPIES
Makes Effort To Stamp Out Insidious
Attacks Against United States
Other News From Capital

Washington Especial Correspond
encel THE pressure of war time re-
strictions upon democracy makes the
people of America squirm and protest.
But steadily the government Is tighten
ing the screws and clamping down the
lid of arbitrary power. The nation Is
in war, although nobody seems to know
it except economically; hence arises
much of the opposition to the dictator
ships of war.
Although the government keeps strict
ly secret its discoveries and suspicious.
there is plenty of circumstantial evil
dence to indicate that the German spy
system and German insidious propa-
ganda are still operating actively In
this country, as 1t is in Russia, to I'M
dermine public sentiment and to In
crease friction. Apparently this Is one
Of the most dangerous symptoms the
administration has to counterfeit.
Only ON this theory can there be ac-
counted for some of the drastic moves
and demands made by the government
on congress, on the press and on the
public.
Seize Upon Presidents Speech.
The extreme Importance attached by
President Wilson to misinterpreta
ton of his Red Cross speech indicates
underlying conditions SO serious as to
warrant him writing two letters to
congressman and have speech Of ex-
,,yopot;nu mazda n, tho conoto
Comparatively few persons gave par
ticular attention to the presidents ad-
dress OF May II. Most of them regard
ed 1t as graceful and gentle essay,
intended for n feminine audience But
when the president learned that some
insidious propaganda had seized upon
it and was actively engaged in circu-
uating printed copies with pacifist COM
ments attached, he got into action i'm
mediately.
The circulars discovered by Senator
Lewis in Illinois said:
"Why should we give our money and
our boys when the president says we
have no grievance? Why fight for
Britain and die and be bankrupt? Why
SitC ID tuiu OuI luuHCy, OUI neIi anu
the navy to satisfy her grievance"
Exemptions After Registration.
The provost marshal general said re
,arding exemption machinery:
"From the lists Of persons registered
names will subsequently be drawn by
lot by the fairest system that can be
devised.
Persons whose names are drawn
and others interested will be given an
opportunity to present claims for ex-
the draft and to support such claims
by evidence.
Regulations governing the determi.
nation Of exemptions, exclusions and
discharges when promulgated will be
made available to all concerned at the
offices of the local boards. Until such
regulations have been promulgated fur
ther information cannot be given, as 1t
might later prove misleading. and even
after the regulations have been made
public decisions concerning exemptions.
exclusions and discharges in individual
eases cannot be made by this Office
provost marshal generaD since the law
provides that all such cases shall he
heard and determined by the boards to
be established for that purpose"
One Man May Spend $4,000, 100000.
The plan for central allied commits
sion to supervise all purchases of food.
munitions and supplies to be made in
this country by the allied governments
as well as by the United States has
reached the point where the discussion
Is conferred around the selection of the
man best fitted to WELD the tremen-
dous power to be lodged in the head of
this commission.
Secretary McAdoo has said that the
allied governments might be expected
within the next year to spend $1,000
100000 in the country and that this
country might be expected to spend
$4,000,O00. The commission to be
appointed will supervise the expendi-
ture Of much Of this vast amount.
Formal announcement Of the plan to
be based on an agreement entered into
by all Of the allied governments awaits
the return to Washington Of Mr.. Nc
Adoo The president and his cabinet
have already under consideration list
of candidates. 1t is understood that
one Of those under most serious con-
sideration is Bernard NJ Baruch. Mr.
Baruch has been unoiflcially assisting
Great Britain and other governments
in making what purchases they have
found to be necessary pending the con-
summation OF the plan for a purchas-
ing commission.
End Of Fiscal Agents.
With the extension of credit to these
governments by the United States the
Old arrangements they had for making
purchases in this country through fiscal
agents came to an end. In the future
they have expressed willingness that
this government shall virtually SUPER
wise all purchases to be made here.
Some Of the governments have been
under no necessity Of making immedi-
ate purchases. In the case Of Russia,
however, 1t has been necessary to go
ahead with the arrangements for the