The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-08-08
WILL FIGHT TO SWAT
GERMAN LIES HERE
'.Where Did You Get Your Facts?''
Is Question To Use To Swat Hun
Propaganda

An intensive campaign to arm the
people of the United States against
pro-German propaganda will COM
mence on August 2sth to continue
two weeks. Forty thousand Four
Minute Men will take. active part in
the work of warning the people ag-
ainst the pro-German prtpagandist,
explaining his methods, and furn-
ishing q weapon with which to COM
bat him.
In the bulletin of information is-
sued for the use OF Four Minute
speakers by the Committee on Pub
lie Information, it is stated. on the
authority of the Department Of Just
ice, that nine-tenths OF all German
plotting against this country has tax
en- the form of printed and spoken
propaganda.
The volume Of such rumors is too
great and, in addition, new subjects
for propaganda are being uncovered
daily.
A single simple test question to
be applied to everything that sounds
like pro-Cerman propaganda, is the
weapon now to be placed in the hands
of the people by the -Four Minute
Men.
The nature and application Of this
test-ausstion may be best illustrated
by the reproduction Of cne OF the
illustrative four-minute speeches CIV
en- in the bulletin.
This example is of unusual interest
because Of the fact that 1t has been
pronounced by authorities Of national
standing to be the most perfect ex-
ample Of Q fonr-minutc speech ever
produced.
The speech follows:
Is there anyone in this audience
who will give the Kaiser one hundred
dollars to be used N figAtinE the
United states! -
.s@eorc you decide. y ee remem-
bsr that the uoue- -mey paid in
.sid cash; ~ cHr. ssck or
drae. - e n. s..sS IL !. y ss4lsssess
Just ~ the farmer nay work on his
road tax instead Of settling II In cash.
Perhaps more people could pay 1t
in that way; SO let me restate the
question: will any7he ia this aud
ience do one hundred dollars worth
of work for the Kaiser?'
But perhaps you wish to know the
kind of work before you decide.
1t is to spread pro-German propa-
ganda.
l am not authorized to speak Of
ficially for the German Government.
but feel quite safe in promising that
1t would pay at least one hundred
dollars TO whoever will take every
chance to repeat just one rumor cal
culated to cause trouble in the Unit
ed States.
Our State Department he's evidence
that $4,000 wac paid by Germany to
]. F. J. Archibald for propaganda,
and so surely 800 would not be too
much for spreading one healthy rum
or, such as this actual scmpie:
1T is said that the American Gov
crnment is suppressing the news thar
tho superdreadnaught Texas and two
American transports, carrying 1000
men, have been sunk.
This is . pro- -Germ1n lie. traced to
its source by the Government. You
may hear It tomorrow; or you may
y hear one of q hundred similar rum
Ors.
What will you do about 1t?
viii you do your one hundred dol
lars worth OF work for the Kaiser
by adopting that rumor and repeat
ing 1t to all your friends and acquain'
tances?
No. YOU will nail 1t as lie! But
how are you going to do It! You
may not know all The facts about tnt
war.
your GOVcTunChs 6asss
simple test-question for the purpose
1t is this: "Where did You get you'
facts?"
Fling that question In the face O.
whoever repeats a harmful rumo'
in your presence; pin him down TO
definite answer; make him prove o.
shut up!
You know II isn't any use to catci
the propagandist unless you can catc'
his propaganda too; you might q
well root up the stalk of dandei'o'
after it's flying seeds have been scat
tered all over the lawn.
You can supplement the gres
work of our Secret Service by eaten
ing propaganda with that test ques'
inn. and remember. anyone who VII
a,vays answer that question to him
se,f before he repeats . rumor. VII
never be in any danger OF doing
hundred dollars worth OF work 10
the Kaiser.
I'll leave the question in you