Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-07-12
ALLIED PRINTING TRADES DE-
CLARE AGAINST HISTORICAL
ATTACKS ON GERMAN LAM
GUAGE PAPERS.

CLARE AGAINST HISTORICAL
ATTACKS ON GERMAN LAM
GUAGE PAPERS.
The board of governors of the In
ternational Allied Printing Trades
Association, composed of representa-
tives of all of the organizations en-
gagged in the printing industry, real
izing that if any newspaper printed
in the German language or otherwise
publishes matter that is detrimental
to the interests Of the present war
such paper can and probably will be
suppressed by the officials of the
United States government, makes the
following declarations:
"In giving consideration to the agi-
taton now being carried on for the
suppression of newspapers published
in the German language the board re-
viewed the matter principally from
the standpoint of necessity and effect.
1T has observed that the American
newspapers printed in the German
language are publishing under
license issued by the federal govern
ment which imposes certain condi-
tons precluding the possibility of
disloyal, reasonable or seditious
statements.
GAS far as we can ascertain all of
the German language newspapers in
New York City are adhering strictly
to the requirements of the federal
government and are conducting
themselves generally in manner
that can not be construed as being
detrimental to the interests of the
United States, in many instances sup
porting the National Liberty Loans
and other war measures.
1--WE appreciate in common with
the view of high government officials,
and especially with tho opinion of our
president, Woodrow Wilson, that the
Amedican newspapers published in
the German language are the best
available mediums for placing the
American point of view regarding the
war before class of readers who in
no other way can get an opportunity
to intelligently understand and ap-
preciate the rectitude of this coun-
try's position.
MANY of the employees of the Ger
man newspapers in New York City,
members of the Pressmen's Union,
Stereotypers' Union, Mailers' Union
and Mail Deliverers' Union are Meth
err German nor of German descent.
All of the employees of the German
newspapers have given undisputed
evidence of their loyalty to the gov
ernment, some now being in the
service of the United States army and
navy and practically all of them being
subscribers for Liberty Bonds and
War Savings Stamps.
"The Allied Printing Trades are
naturally interested in the welfare
and protection of it's membership.
The suppression of the German Ian
guage newspapers would deprive
many members of their means of live
lihood. We are willing to make any
necessary sacrifice for the further
ance of the common good of the
people of this country that will
strengthen the hands of the govern
ment in this great world struggle for
freedom and democracy. We take
second place to no other element of
the American people in our loyalty
and patriotism, having about 5000
members now in the service of the
United States army and navy and
subscribing to approximately $1,000
600 in Liberty Bonds and War Saw
ings Stamps; and we can not, under
the circumstances, see any good to
be accomplished by nor any necessity
for the agitation being carried on to
suppress. boycott and exclude from
the pewsstands the German language
newspapers. and we are therefore
constrained to voice our opposition to
this movement and declare 1t should
not be encouraged nor supported as
long as the government of the United
States licenses the publication or
German language newspapers. we
believe that they should be dealt with
especially in the free United States
of America as a matter of law and by
government authority and not by agl-
tation or popular clamor"