New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
/ Libraries Use German
Books Barred From Mail
Vigilantes Try to Guard Wavering Minds
Against lnsidious Disloyalty Displayed
on Shelves-Excuse Sought on Freedom
of Thought Grounds That Forget

Eduard Meyer, in "England and tie
War Against Germany" declares that
"Germany's war against England Is At
the same time war for the liberation
Of the seas and for the true indepep.
dence of nations"
In thick volume of 1.-THE European
War" by Anthony Arnoux, the invasic,
OF Belgium is eiaborately justified, and
the assertion made that atrocities equal
to those of Germany have been com.
mitted in every war. even including our
seizure Of Vera Cruz! And this implied
accusation of our brave and patient
sailors, in that brief conflict, is to re.
main open to young and ignorant read.
ers, as truth about American war.
fare!
The condemned list includes, to our
shame, books by American writers, pat
forth III some cases by prominent
American publishers. The New York
Tribune, which is strongly unholding-
the Vigilantes in their campaics
against this form Of enemy propaganda
points out that while "The Masses" la,
been suppressed and Max Eastmans
pro-German articles have been forbid.
den the mails, volume of these very
writings, under the title OF "Under.
standing Germany" is now on view in
the Newark Library, where all may have
the benefit OF their extraordinary per
versions Of fact and sentiment. SAYS
this young American:
n oe
reasonable enough, and it was not
more inhuman than many outrages in
the history of other wars England has
committed Lusltania-sizcd atrocities
He adds that England's ruling classes
are not more humane; they merely
know better" And he thus nonchalantly
dlsmisses the atrocities:
All these reverend one-eyed commits
sslons of investigation have established
! beyond shadow of a doubt that Ger
man soldiers nave committed atrocities
But have they established that Allied
soldiers did not? Ever since the ideal
OF human kindness extending beyond
the tribe got hold of mans mind it has
been used in war time to condemn the
enemy and his friends as brutal. Ne
nave no worse opinions of the Kaiser
0han the South had Of Sherman"
Still on the Open Shelves
This is the material which the New
ark librarian has elected to retain not
IN the reference room, but on the open
shelves. And in this decision the trus-
tees-wlth one Xception-have sus
tanned him. And the above is only a
small part of what we find, neatly sand
/ Wlched IN between loyal and truthful
STATEMENTS of things as they are. There
also Frank Harris waves his flag Of
truce with Germany in place of the flag
OF his country; and there the Sim
felners proclaim their preference for
the rule of the Hun. And il is hardly
to be supposed that Newark is the only
offender in this respect The Tribune
IS pursuing its investiga cations. and veri-
lying Its assertions in regard to these
books with significant quotations from
their pages. More power to il If we
arc to keep up our courage, hope and
faith in this terrible conflict. we must
try to guard weak and wavering minds
from subtle undermining influeaces. A
pull all together" is the only way to
WIN. Let US see whether these great
educational institutions, the free librs-
RES, are pulling heartily with US in
the direction Of our country's action
and our country's sacrifice,