Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-15
HUNS FOUGHT WILSON
REELECTION With CASH
Bernstorff Paid Western News
papers to Spread Republican
Propaganda Among Voters.

Washington, Jan l5-That the dip
lomatic representatives of Germany and
Austria-Hungary in the first two years
of the war sought to control the editorial
policies of prominent Western daily
newspapers was asserted today before
the Senate Committee on Propaganda by
Austin J. Smith. former Circulation and
Advertising Manager of The Pueblo
Chieftain and Grand Junction News,
both of Colorado.
Mr. Smith swore that he personally
negotiated the contract which passed
the editorial control of The Chieftain,
which he described as then a leading
Republican paper of the Rocky Noun
tain country, To Court Bernstorff at
conference with Bernstortf IN the RITZ
Carlton Hotel, New York City, October
l3, 1915.
The testimony also showed that Bern
storff and other German representatives
had taken an active part IN the Presi-
dental campaign OF 1916 and that the
orders were to fight President Wilson
and Colonel Roosevelt, but to support Mr..
Hughes.
DIR. Kurt Ziegler, who was the German
Consul General for the Rocky Mountain
States. was Bernstorff's personal agent
in the carving out of orders affecting
the editorial policies of the Colorado
newspapers. MIR. Smith testified 1t was
DIR. Zicgler, he added, who transmitted
the order from the embassy in Washing
ton to attack President Wilson.
Mr. Smith said that once he became
suspicious that what was being done was
not exactly pro-American and he had the
matter reported TO the State Depart
mcnt but that the department tthe Unit
ed States Was not at war at the tIme)
did not see fit to take official cognizancc
of the matter then.
The witness hogan his narrative by
stating that IN 1915 and 1916 he was
the advertising and circulation manager
Of The Pueblo thIcftaln and Grand juno
tion News, with offices IN Denver In
1918. he said. Colonel |. n. Stevens
was the publisher of The Chieftain and
in 1916 Colonel Stevens leased the pa
Per to Alva A. Swain, who was also the
editor OF The Grand junction News.
After leasing The Chieftain, Mr.. Swain
edited the paper. the witness added
In the spring Of 1915 Smith WAS in
strllctcd by swain and Stevens to start
campaign TO obtain subscriptions, he
ssid, and TO employ as many solicitors
as he desired and card index every Ger
man and Cierman-Ameriaan in that part
Of the country Little headway was
made with the Germans and German
Americans in Denver, and later he was
advised 10 obtain from Godfrey SChir-
mer. President Of the German-American
Trust Company of Denver, list OF all
the prominent Germans in Colorado who
would hc interested in chipping in 10 p
fund whereby The Chieftaln would be
circulated All over the State
According 10 the witness, he discussed
the matter with Schirmer and several
prominent German-Amcricans who told
hin the matter would be presented TO
the German Consul. Dr. Kurt Zelgler;
Describing his interview with Bernstori
Mr. Smith testified.
The Ambassador, after gong over
nv letter from DR. Ielgler. informed me
that he was very glad to meet the II
resentative Of a paper friendly to the
cause and that be would be very glad
to render whatever assistance possible,
as he felt very kindly toward The Chief
tain the witness continued. He
seemed TO he pretty well informed on
DR. Zeigler's plans regarding ! ne ohiei-
tam. and after going over map on ms
tatle. informed me that he would like
TO have The Chieftain scattered over the
States Of Colorado, New Mexico and
Utah to start with. but that the paper
must he sent to the most prominent men
IN those States, and that, must xsee
that the names were carefully selected
50 as the most remote hamlet would
he covered. and that at all times ] should
follow DR. Zeiglers directions, as 1t was
very important that the matter be
handled - as not TO create suspicion as to
who was paying for the circulation, and
that nc receipts should be given by either
side for the money given or received, as it
would cause considerable embarrassment
to the paper and TO DR. Zeigler.
He informed me that he would talk
the Austro-Hungarian deal over with
the Baron, and that he would advise me
regarding that end, through Zeigler, in
Denver He agreed to give US $4,000, to
be payable In monthly installmens,
and after that expired, to renew same,
with the proviso that we follow all sug-
eestions that DR. Zeigler would make,
So as to help the people of the four States
10 obtain Germany's side of the war.