Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-02
LITERARY PROPAGANDA CALLS
FOR EXPENDITURE OF LARGE
SUMS OF MONEY.
SPENDING MORE THAN IN
ALL ENTENTE NATIONS
Huge Staff Of Agents Employed on
Large Salaries and Permitted to
Spend neutrality-suspicious. lntei'i-
gent and Are Convinced War is Be
ing Prosecuted for Selfish Ends.

spOlOenGe)--ll
on Spain is due in great measure to
their literary propaganda, conducted
as it is by large staff Of enthusiastic
workers and endowed with an income
far transcendlng the modest sums al
lotted to the propaganda Of England
France and Italy combined But il IS
due even more to the fact that all TINS
literary activity subserVes DEFINITE
policy, controlled by one Will, directed
to one end, and enforced in and out OIL
season by the astuCe and determines
men who constitute the German en-
bassy in Madrid
1t is true no doubt that the German
propagandists have by the simple
means OF paying for it obtained an
extensive control OF the press, IN
Madrid and in the provinces; but it IS
equally undeniable that propaganda by
mere press controversy long ago
reached the limit Of its efficacy The
educated Spaniard is saturated with
information about the war. He gets
every day more than he wants or can
digest. He has already made up his
mind in favor OF one side or the other.
dictates. Argument about the war has
ceased to interest him, and he has BE-
gun to hook to results
Spaniards and the War.
1t must be remembered that the
Spaniards have always regarded the
war from a strictly practical point Of
view. They have never been inter
ested in knowing which side was
morally right and which was wrong;
who began the war, or who has con-
Quoted it in the most humane fashion
or with ths most scrupulous regard for
international treaties.
Among the upper classes the conv1c-
ton is still general that the war IS
being fought on both sides for purely
selfish ends, and that in its lowest
terms it is a struggle between Eng
land and Germany for the commercial
supremacy of the world. This being
so, the patriotic SpaniaTd's first con-
Germ is nat urally for the material in
terest of Spain in the war. FROM
which side, he asks, Will Spain receive
the greater benefits? And, above all
which side is going to win?
Uncertainty as to the answers has
kept him strictly neutral for three
years, and he intends to continue
strictly neutral until all doubt is set
at rest. The Germans, with a sure
instinct. have seen this. and have en-
Geayored with some success to inStill
in Spanish minds two chief beliefs;
first. that the interests of Spain and
Germany are one, both now and in
the future and secondly. that Ger
many is determined to win the war at
all costs and by all conceivable means.
The Enterprising German.
By the use of CatalOgs, circulars,
well-paid advertisements in the press
and the persuasive tongues OF thou
sands Of busy touts, the Germans are
stimulating the Spaniards Imagination
and accustoming him to believe in the
moral and material regeneration Of
his country after the war under Ger
man protection and by the aid Of Ger
man scientific method. And they do
not rely on words alone. They are
taking stock of the country and its OPP
portunities: securing concessions, buy
ing options entering into partnerships,
accepting agencies and nlanagership s
and doing what trade they can, and
all the time taking possession OF the
rich field which the Englishulan neg
lects. In a country obsessed with the
idea that It is poor and backward
there can be no better propaganda
than this. Newspaper articles are bat
poor answer to IL
There There g I'll idea widely prevalent in
England that courtesy and compH-
ments are the chief requisites for the
successful dealing with Spaniards
that the Spaniard is proud and sensi-
tive and full OF dignity, and that the
great thing Is TO spare his feelings
and humor him constantly in little
things. The legend Is not quite up Il
date.
Spaniard Intelligent.
The Spauiard Is as intelligent and
perspicuous as any man alive, very
sensitive Of the distinction between
words and deeds, and no more 10 be
caught BY mere Hat:cry- than other
people. While keenly appreciativc IN
others Of the qualities III which ~
himself abounds, such as courtesy
Kindness and honorable dealings. n
is equally impressed by others which
he sees daily exenplifed il the Ger
mans, namely brute force. relentless
courage, organizing power, and irwin.
chile deter7n nation.
The Germans, on their side. have
thorough appreciation of Spanish psy
chology. There has been no timidit!
in their policy toward Spain. The.
have promised her political protection
and rich partnership, financial. in
teIlectual and scientific if she will bu
assist their ambitions during the war
but if she thwarts the German pur
pose now she will suffer swift reprisai
and retributton in days to come. SuCl
is the German offer; it is simple enougl
for all to understand, and there is n
doubling its sincerity.
Threats and FIattery.
The German propaganda is not di
verted from his purpose by any con
alterations CT diplomatic propriety 0
dom este policies. His instructions ar
TO acquire the whole country and ev
erybody in It for Germany He appeal
not to sentiment or reason. but to sell
interest. He offers handsome reward:
and he threatens dire punishment
He fiatters and supports the king a
Tar as II suite hin? 70 DO 60. and CT II
same time works with the Car.ists
undermine the dynasty and with til
Republicans to subvert the regime. II
shows sympathy for the capitalist o
/ the one hand and for labor on the 9th
ar. he assists all parties in turn 9
lpnE az they assist him. He props Ii
each government that is open 10 hi
B II ggestiops and intrigues against s;,.ei,
snca Thus the Germauization {