New-York tribune., 1918-01-11
Charged Presence i'm New
ark Library Aided the
Kaiser's Propaganda
Demand for Removal
Refused by Librarian
His Action Upheld by In
stitution's Board of
Trustees
Especial Correspondence


NEWARK, \. j., Jan. 10.-Two rroups
of loyal Americans here, equally inter
e.ted in combating enemy propaganda
have come to the parting of the ways
eoncerning the best methods to effect
their aim. They are the trustees of the
Newark Free Public Library and the
yisilantes, representing more than 200
su,hors. artists and others interested
N vigorous Amerlcanism. The latter
have filed protest through Miss
Marion Couthay Smith, of East Orange
eight books they believe contain enemy
propaganca
WIZ John Cotton Dara. librarian of
The Newa.S library, defended the pres
enc, Of the books on the library's
shelves Miss Smith appealed to the
board Of trustees. At their meeting
tonight the trustees refused to take
any action on the protest. The matter
closed. they said, after their discussion
a. their meeting December 19 1917.
The following 1i;.::..l.es cs that meeting
sum up the result of their considera-
ton o. Miss Smiths protest.:
The vice president reported that he
had received from Miss Marion
Couthay Smith, East Orange, letter
library has presenting the German side
IL. !
explaining the German activities be
the secretary be instructed to reply to
Miss Smith that her letter had been
received and fled
J. Ii. Batcheller, a member of the
board Of trustees, demurred tonight
when it was suggested that the trus-
tees define their attitude in more de
tail. He maintained there was no rea-
. son why they should be concerned
volumes in the library.
is president OF the board. The other
mer Mayor; Lathrop Anderson, Rich,
ard c. Jenkinson and J. II. Batcheller.
List of Books Objected To
The books Miss Smith objected to as
,tayoring the enemy directly or by mis-
leading implication are; M a.
German 5 Fighting Machine: BY Ernest +.
Henderson.
England or Germany: BY Frank Harris.
uernap ; Point of View. and What Ger
many Wants: BY Edmund Won Mach
ihe King, the Kaiser and Irish Freedom :
By James h. MCGUIRE.
England: Her Political Organization and
DeyelopFue nt. and the War Against Germany ::
By Edward Meyer.
England and Germany in the War. Bv
ROBERT > thompson
The European War: By Anthony Arno,!x.
Understanding Germany: BY Max East
man
On December 4, Miss Smith addressed
the following letter to John Cotton
Aather. Librarian of the Free Public
Library, Newark:
Il am glad to put in writing, as you
suggest, my protest against the in
cluslon OF enemy books on public H.
DEary lists. | merely wished to ascer-
tam your general view on the subjcc
before treating it formally.
MY protest is not against such
works as explain the psychology Of
the German people, or the underlying
causes OF the war-as Bernhardi's book
ior eXamplc-but against the distorted
iacts and misleading moral interpre-
'atlons which we find in many docu-
ments printed during the war which
lend to nisrepresent history and de-
celVc the young and ignorant.
Denounces Lying Statements
1t Is true that we should diagnose
'ermany's case, and understand Just
wnat We are fighting against, but this
study cannot be founded upon lying
statement and false abuse of our
aAes We need all the faith and truth.
we possess, in order to wage this war
ssalnst an immeasurable wrong to hu-
nanity and civilization.
we carnot risk having our young
people persuaded that Germany did not
make this war. but was unjustly at