Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-21
this country since the beginning of

in this country since the beginning or
the European war.
The name of the organization thru
which the German government has
sought to influence congressional ac-
ton, the previous instances and the
individuals carrying on the propa-
ganda, altho not disclosed, presumably
are known to the state department and
to the department of justice, whose
bureau of investigation for more than
three years has been conducting rigid
surveillance of German activities III
this country.
This latest evidence to be published
Of Count Won Bernstorff's personal
activities in connection with German
propaganda here bears the date OF
President Wilson's address to congress,
Jan. %, reciting his appeal to the war
ring nations to enter into peace nego-
tiations.
Not First offense.
At the same time the president was
addressing congress, apparently, Count
Won Bernstorff was appealing to his
government for funds with which to
influence congressional action.
1t was not the first time, apparently,
that Count Won Bernstorff had sought
to influence congressional action, this
being eloquently proclaimed by his
reference to former occasions"
Records Of the department of justice
are overfiowing with reports from hun
dreds Of agents concerning German in
trigues here. many of which led to the
German embassy and some Of which
resulted in the recall at President Will
sons request Of Captains Boy-Ed and
Won Papen. the German naval and mill
tary aides.
Dirty Work Left to Subordinates.
IN to this time Boy-Ed and Won
Papen had appeared as the master
spirits Of German propaganda here.
Intimations that German plots and in
trigues were directed not by them but
by Count Won Bernstorff with the full
approval of Berlin heretofore had been
met by officials with silence.
For months past however there have
been many indications that the Ameri-
can government has established Won
Bernstorff's direct connection with
much of the German secret work con-
Quoted here and that there was ample
basis for request for his recall months
before the diplomatic break with Ger
many.
Up to the time Of Boy-Ed's and Won
Papen's recall, Won Bernstorff, appar-
emily for diplomatic reasons. had sought
to remain clear personally of connec-
ton with the great volume of pro- Ger
man activities conducted here by his
attaches. From disclosures concern
ing Boy-Edss@and ven Papesss mani
fold activities, officials apparently OBJ
tanned the impression that Won Bern
storn in most instances had left the
conduct OF German propaganda to hls
subordinates with only casual super
vision Of their activities, If any.
Had Guilty knowledge.
Intimations have been more or less
frequent, however, at trials and other
proceedings instituted against pro-
German agents in this country, that
Won Bernstorn had, at least, a general
knowledge Of tha work they were
conducting. In most instances this
knowledge would appear to have been
only Of a general nature In a few
cases leads pointing toward his per-
sonal knowledge Of specific instances
Of German violations Of American neu-
trality were not publicly developed
The governments purpose in not fol-
lowing these leads with public dis
closures was to permit Of closer ex-
animation into the ambassadors actual
participation in them.
Plot to Divide Americans.
In voicing the general resentment in
congress over disclosures of Count
Won Bernstorff's $ message, vive Presi-
dent Marshall today gave out state
ment declaring the disclosure was
proof of the German effort to divide
American into factions by corrupt
means II necessary.
This ought to end forever any and
every doubt in the mind Of any Am
ericans as to the justice and necessity
Of this war. 1t proves that the German
government was seeking all along to
split the UnitedStates into factions by
corrupt means, il necessary, and pos
sibly hoping in time to win the war in
Europe and then to humiliate and sub
jugate the United States. He who is
not Fundamentally for the war runs
a grave risk of being suspected Of
getting part of the $4,000. This is an
honest congress and all its members
will resent this insult to its intelli-
gence and honor