The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-09-29

eminent knows that q large part of
the press of the United States II doing
what 1t can to offset the work of the
pro-Germans In America and OF those
who, seemingly loving u lie for the lies
sake, circulate through the communi-
ties stories invented apparently for the
sole purpose of injuring the cause of
this country.
1t Is said, however, that the gov
eminent also knows that a certain
part of the press lends itself appar-
emily willingly to the spreading of mis-
Information of the kind which a for
mer president of the United States
once described by what he called the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
1t Is certain that If the newspaper
men In the city of Washington cared
to build stories out OF rumors touch
lng this war, they could keep busy
writing all day long. Most of them do
no care to. If a correspondent here
wanted to believe all that he heard he
would be ure that peace Is coming
with Germany within twenty-f0ur
hours ON his basis or that basis. III
be wanted to believe further what he
hears he could be quite positive that
Russia intends quickly to line itself
up with Germany, to supply that u
try with arms, ammunition and food,
and to help Ii In Its war against the
United States and the countries allied
18th a. NFl~n than thTS az tho RATrp-
spondent wanted to believe what he
hears he would feel confident that Italy
Is going to quit the fight, and finally,
If he wanted to believe what he hears
one-half of the soldiers who have been
sent from this city already are either
at the bottom Of the sea or In graves
In France. the victims of disease.
Trying to Find the Traitors.
The correspondent does not want TO
believe these things and he does not
have to believe them because they are
all lies put put by pro-Germans for the
purpose of aiding the aus of the enc
mics of freedom and democracy.
The government is hard at work to-
day trying to find out how to reach the
men and women who are spreading
lies through the country, the traitors
who work In darkness. Uncle Sans
searchlight may be able to find them,
but then the puzzle will come as to
how to secure their punishment. Free
speech is q fetch with the American
people and thus far there does moi
seem to be any way for the authorities
TO draw a clean line between free
speech and free ~falsehood.
Nevertheless the government toda,
Is giving attention to the work of run
ming down the m moneers, th'
plain liars, the hlnters of happening
that never happened and others of tn
sinister pro-German propaganda group
that today are doing what they can q
hurt this country and to help IT
enemy. 4
1t is said to be possible to Stay
woman with a word and 1t seems tina
the alien enemies and the worse thai
alien enemies In the United State
think that what is possible In the on
Il CNSt Is DOSSipiC III hOAAi1i 49, -
eminent knows they are sowing seed
4 of suspicion In every field In the Ian
: believing that they will produce tn
desired crop of poison.
Intention Hard to Prove.
What is the government going to d
J about 1t? 1t Is handicapped In a thot
sand ways. 1t traces a story whlc
has brought damage to the cause {
democracy and finds that the man {
G the woman responsible for 1t plead
& that IL came I'm tea-table talk and thu
II was repeated innocently. Premed
tated intention to hurt America an
heir the kaiser Is n OF the harde'
4 things to prove, and this Is known
a men and women who invent tales
h disaster and schemes to obstruct WI
n preparation.
Recently attention was called In u
press to the fact that In parts of Il
South farmers were refusing to sc
eggs even at the highest market pri'
because they had been told "detinitel.
that the government within a fe
weeks intended to buy all the eggs
: the United States and to pay $l.5O
q dozen for them. How many eg
II spoiled while they were being he
RI from day to day to secure the adva
II tage Of this impossible plan and impe
y Cible price nobody knows.
s. For W weeks the government n
been trying to overtake and kill t
is story that 1t intends to invade I
es households Of the country and to sci
n All the provisions which the hou'
wives have glassed and canned agar
the winter. All through Virginia a
- through some parts Of the middle W.
men and women carrying some XII
en- or a counterfeit badge of authors
spread the story that Uncle Sam !"
a to seize everything that the housewi'
m were laying in store. This was pl
y. enemy propaganda and as the trl