New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-22
Won MACH TO SUE
MACMILLAN co.
Historian Takes First Step
to Start Action Against
Publishers

DR.. Edmund Won Mach, formerly Of
Harvard, took preliminary steps yes
terday in the Supreme Court to sue the
Macmillan Company, publishers. for al
legged conspiracy TO suppress his book'
Official Diplomatic Documents Relat-
ing TO the Outbreak of the War" He
also charges conspiracy TO injure his
reputation as a historian.
Dr. Won Mach, who is the author Of
several other works on subjects assocl-
ated with the war contends that the
withdrawal of his book from sale in
the last part OF 1916 was due to in
iuence exerted on the Macmillan Com
pany in London. His first move yester-
dav was 10 obtain an order from Jus
tice Newburger for the examination Of
George P. Brett. president, and Edward
c. March, vice-president, 70 get the nee
essary information on which to frame
a complaint He also has asked for an
Injunction to restrain the publishing
company from destroying The plates
and copies Of his book now on hand.
Mach Born in Germany
Born in Germany and with his SYM
pathies frankly there. DR.. Won Mach
asserted mis- loyalty as a naturalized
American citizen he referred TO the
fact that one of his sponsors IN his
application for American citizenship
was John D. Long, former Secretary or
the Navy. There was nothing OF pro-
German character in the book accepted
BY the Macmillan Company and then
Withdrawn from circulation, the author
saws, the contents being entirely based
on historical facts.
Dr.. Won Mach fled with his affidavit
copies OF letters from eminent edu-
Gators affirming the fairness and ac-
curacy Of mis- book Among these were
Professor Emeritus John W. Burgess,
of Columbia University; Chancellor
David Starr Jordan. of Stanford UNI
versity: Dr.. Henry $. Pritchett, presI-
dent Of the Carnegie Foundation. and
Dean George Hodges, Of the Episcopal
Theological School. Of Cambridge, Mass.
Provided Against Bias
Dr.. Won Mach said that he put forth
his book as a scholarly edition OF the
collected diplomatic spondence
preceding the European war. He said
that he used the greatest care 20 avoid
including in its pages anything that
was partial or biased After the read
ers OF the Macmillan Company scanned
mis- manuscript Professor Beard. Of Co
lumbia University, also went over the
work
The book was suppressed after pub
LEGATION without notice 20 him. says
the author He quoted from letter
which he declared he received from
the Macmillan Company, on October
(. which said. Eyes, the book Is pub
Esned. and ] am anxious 20 hear from
YOU that 10 is satisfactory When he
learned that the book had been with
drawn. DR.. Won Mach says he called on
Mr.. Brett, who told him that ne had
received letters OF complaint as %
inaccuracies from such people OF
prominence and authority that ne
could not disregard them.
Mr. Brett. president Of the Macmillan
Company. denied last night that there
had been any suppression OF DR.. Won
Mach's book. II was Withdrawn De
cause Of inaccuracies. Il was then IN
tended that, after correction. the book
would again be placed IN circulation.
However. with the present situation IN
the publishing business, II was not
decided Just what course would be fol-
lowed.