New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Propaganda

kOH0SoAAN0 SO
Mr. Samuel Untermyer, self appointed
friend of the Administration ubiquitous
counsellor, publicst, enterpriser, fnan-
cier and lawyer, says: "If there is any
point or significance in that letter written
fifteen months before we entered the war,
| fail to appreciate it."
The letter referred to was one pro-
duced in the Senate committees hearing
on the subject of German propaganda in
this country 1t shows Mr.. Untermyer
in the act of trying to manage the sale
of Park Row newspaper property to
Dr. Albert, keeper of the Kasers reptile
said to have been The Neao York San.
That is immaterial. The price was
100000. Mr.. Untermyer wrote that
he had friends who would take a one
quarter interest provided-this is very
i, material-prouided "some arrangement
could be made giving them the option to
acquire the majority interest at a future
date, say, after the lapse Of one or two
years from the close of the war, which
would afford every opportunity that could
be possible"
Mr.. Untermyer is now anxously un-
able to see any point or significance" in
that letter
A great majority Of Mr.. Untermyers
fellow citizens will see both the point
and the significance.
MIR. Untermyer will perhaps say that,
Of course, the Kaisers ownership of the
newspaper would have had to be pub
lshed according to law. There is moth
ing about that in the letter. Our opinion
is that DR.. Albert would have been I'M
able to see the point of being so INTACT
tuL He would have been quick to sug-
sest that ownership may exist without
legal forms or evidence. That was the
case with The Evening Mail. Mr.. Inter
myer will know about The Evening
Mall case, for it was he who shortly be-
fore the Rumely scandal broke ap-
preached the Enemy Property Custodian
with an offer to bring in new buyer for
re EUeniag Mail, provided the facts of
Its German ownership were permanently
suppressed
Many who are caught in this German
propaganda net will escape because sit
happened before we entered the war;"
This may be a perfect legal defence
Morally it is worse than no defence at
all One who sells the columns of news
paper or any power of publicity, covert
~ TO a foreign government ought to be
treated as traitor to his country, in
tlme OF peace as in time of war. If the
lorelgn government has proper story
10 tell it can tell it openly and directly
and get respectful hearing. No secret
ownership Of newspapers, no Interior
bargains with writer's, are necessary for
purposes of honest publicity.
newspapers, ostensibly American,
parchaseable writer's in good reputation
Win the press, compiler of the Presi-
oshes speeches--such were the German
means for propagating unawares in this
country suspicion, untruth, sedition,
prejudice and fear
NO institution or person intelligent
enough 10 be bought or employed for such
purpose can decently plead afterward
'aat' as it was time of peace, point and
S'gnincance were lacking.
one country does not hire opinions to
oe surreptitiously distributed in another
''r that other country's good, but only
iof It's own; and those who take service
l" such work for another government are
morally disloya to their own in peace as
in wa.
The sinister and terrible power of
propaganda was realized and developed
'rst by the Germans It is something
We shall have 10 control if we can, or