The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-04-10
MENACE TO REORGANIZATION

Maintaining that the German press,
along with the teaching of the Ger
man language and the licensing Of
German societies serves only one pur-
pose - the PRONUNCIATION of German
ideas and German propaganda in this
country, the American Defense So
ciety, characterized by its Honorary
President, Theodore Roosevelt, as
"the fighting wing of the Defense
Movement" has renewed lit attack on
these three institutions, and in a tele-
gram addressed to the President asks
for their suppression.
These three agencies-German So
cieties, German newspapers and the
German language are the three most
pernicious influences working against
a thorough Americanization of the
Germans in this country" said Rich
ard M. Hurd, ma statement made
public at the National headquarters of
the Defense Society. Our readiness
to permit this German propaganda to
flourish has played into the hands of
prOmotores of hyDhenism. 1t has been
the dream of the German government
to create a solidified element within
our citizenship which would be re-
spOnsive to German ideas and ambi-
tons. Bernhard boosted about this.
We have deliberately permitted our
selves to fall into the, trap.
"In asking for the suppression of
these institutions we are taking no
new action. AS far back as last Oc-
tober the Defense Society asked for
the suppression of the German press
and the German language, and the
movement at that time received wide
spread support of the Chambers or
Commerce throughout the country
and of prominent business Organiza-
tons and patriotic societies. But no
action has been taken and we feel
that now is the time for action. AL
ready prominent Cleveland men have
written urging the President to end
this insidious propaganda of the Ger
mans by having the publication of the
German newspapers forbidden.
Everything German has to go. At
the beginning of the war in England
and France laws were passed forbid
ding the publication of newspapers
and magazines in the German lang
uage during the war. Besides mini
MIXING the danger of disloyal utter
ances such law would diminish Teu-
tonic influence in the United States
and hasten the Americanization of our
foreign population of Teutonic origin.
Those who have followed the German
papers proclaim them insidiously dis
loyal. tits offensive to all loyal
Americans that the enemy should have
hundred daily organs circulated
here. Is there a single German paper
that stands squarely for Democracy
in Germany That is the test q
their loyalty to America. What ex-
cuse can be found for thus allowing
them to aid and comfort the enemy
within our gates? Russia's expert
ence with insidious German propa-
ganda is before our eyes. How long
will Congress play with the safety OF
the land?
Several American cities, such as
New York, Hoboken, Cincinnati and
Los Angeles have taken action against
the German language. In New York
the Board of Education has thrown
1t out Of all the elementary schools
and very. soon 1t will, we believe, be
dropped out of the high schools al
so. Loyal men cannot, permit the
teaching OF an enemy language. Any
language which produces a people OF
ruthless conquestadors, such as now
exists in Germany is not fit lang
uage to teach the clean and pure
American boys and girls and the most
ordinary principals Of self-defense de-
mand that It be eliminated. All the
German idols lie In the mud, shatter-
ed and defiled by savage hands. The
German language serves only to re-
mind us OF the Lusitatnia, the seven
destroyed hospital ships. the Zeppe-