Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-30

Washington, July 3O.-The anti
American attitude Of the German press
in this country is likely to result in
all these newspapers being published
in the English language. The lettings
and Pressen are getting on the nerves
of the administration. At the start of
the war they were careful of giving
offense. Their attitude was that a ter
rible calamity had befallen the Ger
Americans, and, while sorrowing
over the necessity Of making a choice
between the mother country and the
land Of their adoption, they reluctant
ly declared that their allegiance was
to the United States.
Made Bold by immunity
Gradually some Of them began VEN
turing on criticism Of the governments
policy, mainly in the form Of clippings
from the Berlin papers, and when they
found that brought no interference
they gave their own unfavorable opin-
ions, being emboldened by the presi-
dents announcement in connection
with the censorship bill that he had
no intention of trying to curb opinion
or discourage criticism.
Immunity has made them bold, and
now many Of the papers are not only
frankly anti-war but enthusiastically
pro German. Every German victory is
headlined triumphantfy, every Ameri-
can war move is ridiculed and the
prospect Of defeat Of the allies is treat
ed editorially as not only a certainty
but as a heaven-se retribution.
A newspaper in Germany that took
similar course, favoring the Ameri-
can side, would not last over night.
But Mr.. Wilson is not the kaiser.
Cabinet Not United.
The presidents position that it was
not the German people but the Ger
man government on whom we are war
ring makes him ultra careful to add
nothing to the burden of the enemy
aliens among us.
The cabinet is not united on the
proper policy to pursue in relation to
the German press, but the pigeon holes
of the department Of justice are being
filled with the translationS Of the sedi-
ious propaganda.
It has been suggested that barring
these newspapers from the malls might
help some, but as most Of them are
published in the big cities that would
hardly prove an adequate remedy.
Forcing them to publish in English,
which might be done under the presi-
dents war power. would be measure
IN reprisal rather than a corrective.
for it would inevitably put out OF bust
ness not only the offenders, but those
who have kept to the line Of loyalty.
All these papers depend for their
calculations on the old Germans who
do not read English at all, or. atieast.
find it difficult, and they could not
compete with the American daily press.
Prosecution Possible.
The alternative seems to be a prose-
cution under the laws that make CIV
ing aid and comfort to the enemy
treason; but that again is deemed too
serious a method Of dealing with the
The problem is not SO important as
some of those that the president has
been called upon to solve, but 1t Is
grave enough to have been the sub
ject matter of several cabinet confer
ences.
Congress might help the president
out, but the ill-considered efforts to
obtain censorship law have lined up
congress solidly against any interior
ence with the liberty of the press, and
the plumbers and inept handling Of the
questions of publicity have confirmed
the national legislature in its deter
mination to protect freedom Of opinion.
1t is the sort Of situation that would
not bother a monarchy for moment,
but that is as full Of spines as wild
gooseberry when a democratic republic
has to deal with It,