The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-10
R :NEWS ATTACK ON
ALL THINGS GERMAN
Defense Souiety Asks President "a
Suppress German Press, Ian
Euagc and Societies.
is MENACE TO AMERICA
Hurd Points 70 Danger Prom Soiidi-
fled German Element and Says Time
10 Take Action Against Hun Propa-
ganda Has Como.

Maintaining that the German press.
along with the teaching OF the Ger
man language and the licensing OF
German societies serves only ono pur-
pose--the PRONUNCIATION Of German
ideas and German propaganda IN TINS
country, the American Defense So
ciety. characterized by its honorary
president. Theodore Roosevelt. "a the
fghting wing OF the defense move
meut' has renewed its attack on these
three institutions. and in telegram
addressed to the president asks Tor
their suppression.
These three agenciea--Cterman So
cieties. German newspa pers and the
German language are the three most
peruicious influences working against
n thorough Americanization OF the
Germans in this country" said Rich
ard NJ Hurd, in "a statement made
public st tho national headquarters
Of the defense society. Our readiness
70 permit this German propaganda to
flourish has played into the hands OF
promoters Of hvphenism. il has been
the dream Of The German government
To- create o SO 3didcd element within
our citizenship which would he re-
sponsive to German ideas and Smbt-
tons Bernhard boasted about this.
We have deliberately permitted our
selves to fAN INTO the trap.
In asking for the suppression OF
these Institutions we are taking no
new action As far back as last
October tho defense society asked for
the suppression Of the German press
and tho German language, and the
movement at that time received wide
spread support OF the chambers Of
commerce throughout the country and
Of prominent business organizations
and patriotic societies. But no action
has been taken and we feel that now
is the time for action. Already promi-
nent Cleveland men have written
urging the president TO end this In
sidious propaganda OF the Germans by
having the publication of the Ger
man newspapers forbidden.
Everything German has to 20. At
the beginning or the war in England
and France laws were passed forbid
ding the publication of newspapers
and maya zines In the German Ian
EuaKe during the war Besides mini
mixing the danger OF disloyal utter
ances such a law would diminish
Teutonic influence In the United States
and hasten the Americanization Of
our foreign population Of Teutonic
origin. Those who have followed the
German papers proclaim them IN
sidiously disloyal II IS offensive to
all loyal Americans that the enemy
should have a hundred daily organs
circulated here. Is there single
German paper that stands squarely
for Dem ocrscy in Germany That
ia the test OF their loyalty to Amer
lea What excuse can he found for
thus allowing them to aid and com =
fort the enemy within our gates?
Russia's experience with insidious
German propaganda Ia before our
eyes. How long will congress play
with the safety OF the land?
Several American cities. such as
New York. Toboken, Cincinnati and
Los Angeles, have taken drastic &C
tion against the German language.
In New York the board OF education
has thrown 1t out OF all the elemen-
tary schools and very soon It Will. we
believe. DO dropped out of the high
schools also. Loyal men cannot per
NIT the teaching of an enemy Ian
guage. And language which produces
people of ruthless conquestadors,
such as now exists in Germany, is not
tit language to teach to clean and
pure American boys and girls and the
most ordinary principles OF seH-de-
Tense demand that it he eliminated
All the German idols lie in the mud,
shattered and deled by savage hands.
The German language serves only TO
remind US of the Lusitania. the seven
destroyed hospital ships, the zeppe-
Inns over London and other bloody
atrocities committed on a helpless
people. We must stand for one lam
guage, one nation. one national spirit
and one flag.
Every loyal American should be
keenly and personally intereste ed in
the result OF the movement to repeal
the charter OF the National German
American alliance now under consId
GRAFTON at Washington This organiza-
ton, formed In 1900 is accused by
Mr., Ohlinger president OF the Toledo
chamber of commerce OF being the
core of the active pro German propa-
ganda in the United States. It is more
than an absurdity, 1t Ia folly, It is
weakness to allow an enemy organ
izatlon continue to flourish under