New-York tribune., 1918-06-24
Citizens Give Decision in
Letters to New Jersey
Editor
Judgment Asked
BY "The Herald"
Replies Received From
Clergymen, Club Women,
and Business Men

MONTCLAIR, N. J., June 23.-Mont-
clair's verdict on Hearst newspapers Is
printed in the current issue Of "The
Montclair Herald" which was pub
lished yesterday. Montclair's verdict is
that Hearst papers are guilty" and
should be kept out of town.
The town returned Its verdict through
letters written to Charles Henry Kin
ney, editor of "The Herald" In last
weeks issue Mr.. Kinney gave his edi-
torial opinion Of Hearst, published
brief account of what the Hearst pub
lications have done in the past and
then invited the citizens of Montclair
to pass judgment.
Montclair citizens were not slow in
returning their verdict. Mr. Kinney
r.ceived letters from club women. min
listers, business men and laborers. All
condemned Hearst newspapers; none
defended them. Mr.. Kinney declared
to-day that the tone Of these letters in
dicated the extent to which American
public opinion has turned against the
type OF newspapers COutTOtleu Nv w llI-
lam Randolph Hearst.
View of Club President
Mrs. Florence B. Winton, president
of the Montclair Federation of Wom
ems Clubs, wrote her verdict of Hearst
as follows:
Il may say that as we have young
children in our family, we have thought
it best not to bring papers of that
character into the home, and | have
therefore very little background against
which to set an opinion in the present
instance.
However, taking this concrete case
OF the 'expurgated edition of Presi-
dent Wilson's Memorial Day proclams-
tion as printed in The New York Amer
ican,' can see no possible justification
for such deletion. 1t is not only un-
patriotic. but anti-Amcrican, and hence
palpably pro-German, for 'he that is
not with me is against me-"
The Rev. DR.. Luke NJ. White, pastor
of st. Luke's Church. wrote:
"Let me say that in my opinion there
can be no question but that Montclair
will see to it that these publications
are banished from the community.
at is intolerable to have in the COM
munity such open and direct express
sion OF pro-German sentiments as those
expressed in the Hearst publications.
! do not see how any loyal American
citizen can read at this time a sheet
which is SO patiently anti-American."
From Relief Committee Head
This letter came from Mrs. Florence
Reid Underhill, national chairman of
the Garibaldi Relief Committee:
Il am not very familiar with the
Hearst publications, as neither my
father nor my husband considered
them fit to be seen in an American
home. I have known their feeling and
principles only from excerpts printed
IN other papers, and until the example
you have just called to my attention
have considered their expressions be-
meath contempt. Now, however, it is
high time for US all to act, and to do
our utmost to exclude such pro- Ger.
man, mischief making publications from
our town."
Major H. J. Redfield compared Hearst
to Catiline. Major Redfeld is COM
mander of the Montclair Battalion.
New Jersey Militia Reserve. which on
Memorial Day petitioned President
Wilson to stop the publication of everv
Hearst newspaper in the United States.
He wrote:
will you permit an obscure citizen
to congratulate the editor of The
Montclair Herald upon the course your
paper has pursued with regard to the
Hearst publications? There are many.
dare say, who would wish to. but
nave not the courage to follow in your
tracks.
mo American who does his own
thinking can ignore the possibilities of
the campaign of disloyalty which has
been pursued in this country since, and
even years before, the war began. That
campaign is as active as it ever was
and even more dangerous.
Driving Wedge Between Allies
We see in it pitiable, foolish, but
perhaps honest pacifism, socialism and
other forms OF delusion. and the ef-
forts OF the pro-German sympathizer
to sap the morale of our citizens.
In the latter class we find the Jour
naiist whose constant policy has been
to increase popular discomfort and
drive wedge between the classes in
our country. and between US and our
allies, notably England.
"The editorial comments and suppes.
tIons appearing at various times in his
newspapers are abhorrent to all red
oiooded Americans. They should not
be tolerated without protest We ali
know that similar suggestions and sim
liar propaganda destroyed the Russian
armies, and that similar propaganda
caused the greatest disaster of the war
IN Italy. 1t is the duty of all citi-
zens to see that it has no effect in onr
country: and particularly in our com
munity."
Il am not sure that in the example of
the Roman Senate we do not find the
only remedy for Hearstism. The proc
esses OF law are not sufficient. To
maintain the guarantees of free speech
and free press we are Obliged. at
least in times Of peace, to tolerate the
banefpi excesses Of the demagoeue: but
there always remains power. above
and without the law. the consuming
power Of public opinion. which can
burn like fire and blast like lightning.
Value Of Public Opinion
1T is. true that enlightened public
opinion has always condemned Hearst
ism without ending it, but public opin-
ion is like the rays of the sun. Diffuse
IT, and 1t does not destroy. Concen-
trate its rays in a magnifying glass
and it will consume as Are. Public
opinion should be concentrated on
Hearst and Hearstism, until both he
and his organs are the scorn of all
honest men. as Catiline was when he
sat alone in the Senate.
"The times are critical, and we can
not afford to tolerate this fountain
head Of demagoguery. Let every citi-
zen awake to an obvious peril, for il
the morale of the American people
should be weakened by such noiscr