The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-29
Blind American Ideals He Blamed British for Attitude
of This Country-Let Cat Out of Bag in an Inter-
view with MIR. Stockbridge in Chicago.

Germany wants the freedom Of the
seas" he declared.
what is stopping her?" asked.
England" he explained. England
controls all the strategic straits and
waterways of the world-Gibraltar, the
English Channel. the Suez Canal the
Straits of Malacca." He named dozen
more. ut is not right that one nation
should have the power to prevent the
commerce of the world from moving
where it pleases."
HAS England ever stopped any German
ships from going where they pleasedT' ]
asked.
Attack British Sea Power.
mo, but she could. She has a great
navy, with coaling stations all over the
world. No nation can keep such power
without some day exercising it"
Perfect German logic! If you own a
gun you must kill somebody!
When he declared German commerce
was being stifled ! asked him to explain
how Germany had risen in twenty years
from maritime insignificance to the posi-
ton of second maritime Power Of the
world He changed the subject, saying
that I, being an American, could not un-
derstand those things. Germany, he said,
must expand. Her birth rate was increas-
ing. her population pressing upon her
borders. She needed room IN which TO
grow.
why has emigration from Germany
practically ceased for twenty years If her
people arc so crowded at homer" I asked.
That was another thing which, as an
American, l could not be expected to
understand
'sThat is the whole trouble" DR.. Rumely
went on. "You Americans do not under
stand Germany The English have been
filling this country with their propaganda
for years and you think they are right in
whatever they do. The result is that
Americans are all taking the English side.
Now, Germany is entitled to a fair hear
ing, is she not?"
1 conceded that Germany was entitled
to exactly as fair treatment as was Bel
GUM or any other country.
Says British Censor News.
"My friends he said. picking up the
package of papers, 'are sure that if the
people of America really understood Ger
man war aims they would have more gym.
pathy with Germany in this war. We are
not getting correct news from the other
side. The British censors are holding
back everything favorable to Germany.
The Associated Press is pro-English
Now, l can get the exclusive right to OBJ
tain the real news from Germany for dis
tribution in this country. My friends
think that would be very valuable con-
cession What do you think about it?"
What would you do with this news
after you got it?" I asked
Il would sell it to the American news
papers," he said. 1T ought to be very
valuable, for it would be authentic and
official
AS gently and as solemnly as I could
I told the Doctor few rudimentary facts
about the newspaper business. 1 tried to
make him see that the war was already
costing the newspapers far more than
going to cost them still more; that in
stead of being eager to spend money for
more news, even German official" news,
they were looking for places where they
could cut off expenses.
"That is what I want advice
about" he said. "You have had
experience in such things. How
would you go about 1t to influence
public opinion in America in favor
Of Germanyw
The cat was out of the bag!
eff you were to come to me with a
proposition to do that" replied, Il would
stipulate certain conditions TO begin with.
First, you should deposit reasonable
Sum-say a million dollars-to my credit
in some good country where extra dition
treaties don't run, like Honduras. Then
you should furnish me an armed guard
and a complete set of DISCUSSES. so when
the time came, as it assuredly would,
when had to make my getaway between
two days, l would have a reasonable
chance of making it. In other words,
what you are asking can't be done, and
the man who tries it on is going to find
himself in trouble"
am neither a pro:het no, the son Of a
prophet. hut events have proved that
was right. The Doctor wanted to know
why l was SO positive.
Because the thing You want to make
the American people believe in is some
thing they cannot believe IL and remain
Americans" I said. "You want them to
believe that nation that tears up treaties
and invadcs a country with which it has
no quarrc! is something to be admired
You want to make the people of free
America sympatllizc with the masters of
ens,aved Germany"
There you so again." he explained,
talking Of things you do rot know any
thing about Don't you know that the
German people are the best governed
people in the world? Don't you know
that there is less misery and poverty in
Berlin than there is in London; that the
German poor are happier than the poor
of New York;"
II know you are not going tn get Amer
leans to like a civilization where the SOL
der is supreme, where women have to