New-York tribune., 1918-07-29
Santa Monica Vigilance
Corps Declares His Publ
cations Menace to Allies
Editorials Are Cited
Attacks on Belgium and Eng
land Quoted-Belated
patriotism" Rebuffed
Especial Dispatch to The Trtbune)


tempt to save himself by conversion
to Americanism has not prevented the
patriotic citizens of this city from
seeking the local suppression of his
newspapers.
The Santa Monica Vigilance Corps,
with representatives in all walks of
life, is taking the lead in the war on
Hearst. The Vigilance Corps has
adopted a resolution declaring Hearst's
influence harmful to the cause of the
Allies and helpful to the Huns. and
branding his publications as unfit to
enter patriotic American homes. The
resolution follows:
Hearst Himself Quoted.
Whereas, either from the files Of
the various publications owned or con-
trolled by William Randolph Hearst,
or from the published statements of
James M. Beck, former Assistant At
torney General, and other responsible
men, or from statements published by
the American Defence Society and
other patriotic organizations, which
have not, so far as known, been denied
by said Hearst, or from extracts from
newspapers published in Germany. or
from two or all of said sources of in
formation, the truth of the following
facts is established to the satisfaction
of this organization, viz:
"(a) The San Francisco Examiner
for November 18, 1914, stated The Bel
gians have only themselves to blame if
they are victims of the war. They
have wished to play the heroic part. 1t
is not for us Americans to pay the ex
pense of Belgian heroism.'
"(b) Immediately after the sinking
of the Lusitania, as we'll as before and
since, Hearst editorially approved Of
Gcrmany's policy of submarine war
fare and piracy, for example. in the
New York Americana May II and 90
and June 6 and 20, 1915, and in the
San Francisco Examiner April IA,
1917. In the said issue Of the New
York American for June 6. 1915, and
in the Los Angeles Examiner for the
same date, appeared an editorial signed
by Hearst dealing with the Lusitania a
for complaint in the matter, that we
had no right to make this de-
mand that Germany suspend her sub
marine warfare and that the Lusi-
tania was properly spoil of
war, subject to attack and destruction
under the accepted rules of so-called
civilized warfare
Upheld the U-Boats.
"(c) In an editorial in its issue of
April ID, 1917, after the United States
Examiner stated Particularly do we
deplore the sentiment that has been
fostered against the submarine. /.
We are making a terrible mistake in
this sentimental objection to subma-
rine warfare
"(d) At the beginning of the world
war Hearst journal expressed sym
pathy with the cause of Germany, even
justifying it's treacherols assault upon
civilization by the assertion that
Germany's economic needs could not
pansion in Europe The defeat of
Germany meant the destruction of the
most progressive nation in Europe;
and on another occasion one of his ed
itors said that the issue of the war
was whether the luminous German
thought should be victorious or not in
Europe
"(e) After the United States broke
off diplomatic relations with Germany
Hearst's organs opposed the arming of
our merchant vessels, when they were
attacked in defiance of international
law by the ruthless submarine, and
dor ofor J,,, hof
Congressional authority was given to
the merchant marine of America to
defend itself against piratical attacks.
His papers deprecated the immemorial
rights of Americans to travel on the
high seas as the common pathway of
nations, and The New York Journal
was wholly opposed to the policy Of
making the death of any American,
who knowingly takes such foolhardy
risk, a cause of bloody and ruinous
war;
"(f) After Americas entry into the
war Hearst constantly and vigorously
opposed our active participation in it
in Europe and urged Congress that it
imperativcly refuse to permit the fur
ther drainage of our food supplies and
our military supplies and our money
supplies to Europe, and advocated that
we should send no soldiers to France
From day to day he insistenty urged
that I'VE should keep our own men
and money at home for effective de-
fence His organs contcnded that
even feed should be withheld from the
European nations. adding that every
shipment of food and military sup
plies from this time on is a blow at
our own safety and for this reason
Hearstism urged Congress to refuse
bor Cro
food. supplies, military and money
supplies to Europe
ITO him the only sensible course for
this country was to desert our allies,
by keeping every dollar and every man
and every weapon. and all our sun
plies and stores at home for the de-
fence Of our own land until
that defence is made absolutely Sc
cure Two years were suggested as
the limit OF time to make our country
secure; and thus the cowardlv sur-
gestlon was made that our country
should for two years leave our allies
already done for nearly three preced
ing years.
"(g) For considerable time Hearst
actively opposed the passage of the
seiectlve service law. commonly called
the draft act. and abused the PresI-
dent as a despot for advocating it In
its issues of June Il and 81. 1917. The
New York American openly urged tho
holding of mass meetings in order to
prevent active American participation
in the war
"(h) He has for years. and especially
SINCE August !, 1914, and even since
April ., 1917. sought both in his news
columns and in his editorials. TO create
81 CT y ~