New-York tribune., 1918-05-25
Points Out Flaw
In Explanation
Made by Hearst
Elmira Councilman Says
Asterisks Indicate DELHI
crate Deletion
Will Vote on Ban
Council to Decide Friday;
"Series Of Offences" by
Hearst Charged

ELMIRA, N. Y, May 2A.-For nearly
two hours last night the Common
Council of Elmira considered the case
against William Randolph Hearst and
his New York newspapers, "The
American" and Evening Journal
Following a brief executive session it
was announced that no resolution
would be adopted until next Friday, in
order to give the Hearst papers an op-
portunity to get representative here
to present some kind of defence and
to give the Corporation Counsel an op-
portunity to examine the legality of
the action suggested. A man named
Ring did appear for Hearst at the
meeting, but the only defence he of
fered was an attack on the character
of Richard Marlowe, a local attorney
of unquestionable standing.
Text of the Resolution
The Council is considering resolu-
tion drawn up by Mr.. Marlowe. The
resolution follows:
Whereas. Sufficient proof has been laid
before the Common Council of the city of
Elnira which. in the opinion OF this
body. shows that 'The New York Ameri-
can" and THE New York Journal pub
lished by William Randolph Hearst. are
hindering the full and vigorous prosecu-
ton of the war and are helping the cause
of the enemy and
Whereas. In the opinion Of the Common
nrh1iched the laYiVuaUe of the
enemy are equally detrimental to the
of freedom. for which America is
fighting; it is therefore
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
body that the selling or buying of these
papers is highly unpatriotic act and
help and comfort to the enemy OF our
country. Further,
Resolved, That a copy OF this resolution
be forwarded to every paper in Chemung
County and to every newsdealer i'll this
city.
Councilman Guy B. Morgan asked
the Hearst representative if he could
account for the mutilation by "The New
York American" of the Presidents
prayer for victory so that it looked
like prayer for peace.
"You say it was typographical err
ror," declared Mr.. Morgan, "yet here
are three asterisks to indicate that
certain matter was deleted deliber-
ately. How do you account for them 2"
Follows Parade of 10000
The Hearst representative stam-
mered bit and then said he was a
circulation department man and knew
nothing of editorial matters.
The meeting followed PATRIOTIC
parade in which nearly ten thousand
persons marched to stimulate contribu-
tions to Elmira's war chest, a fund
of 100000 which has been planned
such time as it is exhausted
Practically all the Councilmen and
city officials left the parade to attend
the special meeting which was called
by Mayor Hoffman to consider action
that would limit and if possible pre-
vent the sale in Elmira of the Hearst
papers and/German language publica-
tion.
Mr.. Marlowe and Gaylord Riggs, Ell
mira attorneys, told in forceful Ian
guage why Hearst should be barred
from the city. Mr.. Marlowe said:
"Hearst's guilt is not one offence
an ordinary war. Germany is fighting
back of our line just as hard as she
is in front of it. To my mind the
greatest menace by far is the insid-
Gus propaganda she is spreading in
the countries of her enemies. In
America her propaganda is spread by
German language papers. What a
situation. But worse than the German
language papers are the Hearst
papers.
"Coiled in the Flag
"The enemy is doing his dirty work
i'll Elmira. We must cut this out as
we would carve out cancer. These
papers are stabbing in the back our
Germany to win this war. He does not
say so, gentlemen, for Hearst is coiled
an the flag"
Mr.. Marlowe read excerpts from the
Hearst papers of dates subsequent to
the entrance of America into the war
He showed the Councilmen that
Hearst invariably refers to the strug.
gle as European war;" never as al
American war. lie read insinuations
from the Hearst papers suggesting
that Germany as white nation wa:
really our. ally and that the only rea
enemy of Western civilization wa
"despotic" Japan.
"M hat do you think of that gentle
2" asked Mr.. Marlowe. "Here Ger
many is our ally, and all along we hav
thought she was our enemy. What d,
You think of it, MIR. Mayor and MI
Clerk (Louis G. Andrews)? You ar
both members of our draft board. D,
you tell our young men that sort o
stuff when you call them up for mill
tary service to fight Germany?"
Mr.. Marlowe concluded by asking tn
Council to adopt a resolution stamp
ing as disloyal any newsdealer VIII,
continued to sell the Hearst papers.
Such resolution" he said, "i
Hearst lawyer-proof Hearst can't pe
any court in this land to grant him a,
injunction against patriotism"
Hearst Man Speaks
Mayor Hoffman invited the Hears
representative to speak, and the ma,
began:
Honest, you don't know how natr;
otto Mr.. Hearst is. Why, he has give,
thousands of dollars to war chaT;t;o
and millions for Liberty bonds.
This person {pointing to Mr.. Mar
lowe) is just bringing these charges T.
get even with Hearst. What do yo,
think he is getting out Of it? Pm ius
poor, ignorant circulation booste,
I'm no lawyer. But ! want to say
there's no more loyal man than M,
Hearst"
At this point several of the Conn
cilmen asked him il he could aceo,,n