New-York tribune., 1918-01-21
Author Declares Even Teu-
ton Editions That Merely
Entertain Should Go
Others Called Seditious
Propaganda Is Knife Inten-
tionally Aimed at Heart
of u. S., He Says

"Thc library that buys seditious
books and puts them on the public
shelves, within easy reach of every
reader, ought to be closed and it's
coal contiscated for use in munition
factory"
This opinion of one of the trustees
or the Queens Borough Public Library
stands out in sharp contrast with the
stand of the trustees of the Newark
Public Library for the retention of
enemy propaganda books. Coming as it
does from Ellis Parker Butler, author
of Pigs Is Pigs" who besides being q
trustee is a member Of both the book
and executive committees, which pass
on the free reading matter for the en-
tire Borough of Queens, it is important
testimony in the campaign of the Vigi-
lantes against the dissemination of
books adulteratcd to poison the Ameri-
can mind. The Queens library operates
twcnty-onc branches and twenty five
additional stations.
Bars All German Books
Mr.. Butler said yesterday:
"a book praising Kaiscrism, Prus-
slanlsm or in any way setting forth
anu american ideas or sentiments is
at this moment, Il knife Intentionally
aimed at the heart of America The
olen shelves of a public library are no
places for such books to-day
There are two kinds of books
those meant to entertain and those
meant to teach. If a pro German book is
fo ort.,
library while we are at war There
are plenty Of innccuous entertaining
books to supply the demand. If pro-
German book is meant to teach, it can
tcach nothing at this time but sedi-
ton. TO advocate the circulation Of
German books through our libra
rlcs is to advocate making our H.
braries fountains of scdition.
Books other than merely entertain
lng books are written to color the
minds OF their readers. Especially in
war time does the writer seek to color
the readers mind. Every patriotic war
book written to-day has that reason
for its cXisctencc Every German
propaganda book, however skilfully
the real meaning of the book may be
hidden, has that same purpose. 1t
seeks to color the mind of the reader.
making 1t muddler in patriotism duler
IN Americanlsm, a more suitable back
ground for receiving suggestions of SC
Gltlon and treason. If this is not so,
why is the book written?
"The Queens Borough Public Library
has an immense number of war books,
and 1t is buying all the interesting and
valuable books of that character that
are printed. 1t is not so fat-headed
however, that it calls a book a war
look merely because it has the word
war" IN its pages. 1t does not think it
necessary for a library to be as pur-
b'lnd as that. | think our library is
sufficiently wide awake to be able to
distinguish between a book and certain
bound pages printed with German
propaganda.
Calls Circulation Scdition
"ln ordinary circumstances IL
brary should try to supply books Civ
in" both sides of every Important sub
ct. When Japan ard Russia we're at
war 1T was right to give readers an
opportunity to hear both sides. We
ought to have books for and against
Vegetarlanism. a library ought to have
books in defence of Shakespeare's right
to be considered the author of his own
plays and books supporting the claim
That Bacon wrote them.
But German propaganda books are a
different matter when we arc at war.
When we hand such books over a de-
!iVe:y counter we are disseminating
sedltlous matter, and no other words
describe the act"