New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
Overman Committee Finds
Need to Check Work Such
as Huns We're Caught At
Publicity Is To Be Cure
Also 1t May Be Made Treason
to Aid Enemy in Try
ing to Influence People
Ncso York Tribune
IYCstinutOr1 Bureau

anu III PcdCe, Sucn pIdCtlCeS as
have been disclosed by the Overman
propaganda investigating committee is
under consideration by the members of
the committee and by its counsel, and
undoubtedly will be recommended to
Congress in its report. While the
hearings are not over, enough has been
disclosed to convince the committe
That legislation is necessary.
we have learned some startling
things about what has been going on
IN this country" said Chairman Over
man to-day. "Wc surely will do all
that can be done to prevent any such
things in the future. Constructive leg
lslation, based on the disclosures and
aimed to control both aliens and our
own citizens, has been shown to be
needed
II am a great believer in publicity
myself, and I believe the secrecy with
which this propaganda has been carried
on has been one of its most dangerous
features, and one that can and should
be rcmeded.
Can't Limit Free Speecl,
cannot, OF course, attempt to
!lmlt freedom of speech or of the press,
put we can make sure that the public
knows who is responsible for publicity
campaigns that are being carried on
ana to punish those who attempt to
deceive the public. 1t is evident that
We snail be more deeply interested in
european affairs hereafter, and we
must be protected against improper at
tempts to influence us in regard to
them
I'VE have not reached any conclu-
slons as to what form the legislation
should take, but informal discussions
nave been going on and several pro-
posals probably soon will be in shape
Tor definite consideration"
Attorneys for the committee also
nave been considering proposals to be
included in the tentative report they
"ill prepare for the committee. The
probable result of the hearings. in
addition to the tremendous amount Of
vital information already put before
the public, is therefore beginning to
take shape.
The task of formulating laws that
VIII prevent the secret direction Of
publicity campaigns is felt by all the
men involved to be delicate one. 1t
amounts to an effort to control and to
insure the honesty Of such campaigns.
without in any way Infringing the
RIGHTS of free speech.
Cure Found IN Publicity
The cure probably Will be sought in
Jaws enforcing publicity fas to the
sources Of such campaigns under heavy
penalties. In addition there will be
amendments suggested to several ex-
isting laws.
Ore of these is TIE corrupt practices
act. This is at present in chaotic
state, and q bill by Senator Owen re-
vising and codifying the various en-
actments IS pending before the Senate.
There probably will be amendments
broadening its scope and having par
tcular~ reference to american in
fluences, or else separate statute
dealing with these points
Another law in question is that re-
curing publicity as to the ownership
Of newspapers. The hearings have
shown several cases where German in
terest in papers-or at least in their
publishers-has not appeared in the
sworn statements, and yet the omis-
sion has left no ground for prosecu-
ton.
The whole question of foreign
language papers and their control is
being considered. The dangers from
these publications have been shown re-
the committee that they have import
ant and useful functions, it is felt
that their place should be clearly de-
fined and measures taken to make sure
that they cannot become centre of
antl-American influence.
Must Come Into Open
in the effort that will be made to drive
secret propagandists into the OPEN and
this will have to be undertaken along
the line of entirely new legislation. 1t
will, so far as the discussions in the
committee have indicated, be based on
the anti-lobby statutes which have been
enacted in several states, and which
are embodied in a bill by Senator Over
man. who also is chairman Of the lobby
investigating committee.
This bill provides for registration
with the Senate and House of all con-
sIlar agents who have anything to do
with attempts to influence any action
by Congress, and imposes penalties for
failure SO to register. Working along
this line, members of the Overman
which would provide that all persons
engaged or involved in any attempts
to influence the public through speech
or writing as agents for any persons OF
organizations would be compelled to
file with some public official state
mcnt OF this connection, the records to
be open to the public.
May Make 1t Treason
One of the plans under considera-
tion would make failure to do this
when the employer is a foreign gov
ernment espionage for an alien in
America, and for an American citizen
disloyalty in peace and treason in war
time.
The discussion also indicates that
the act would be broad enough to in.
clude other considerations for such
service than money payments. The
duty of recording such connections
probably would fall either on the State
Department, because of its interest in
foreign relations, or on the Postoffic ce
Department, which already has numer-
Gus duties in connection with organs
of publicity
Such legislation, it is pointed out,
would practically have blocked the
German propaganda from the start
Dernburg, Albert and their thirty three
agents of German birth either would
have been forced to come out into the
open, or would have gone to Jail for
long terms instead of departing COM
fortably with Won Bernstorff, or of
enjoying gentcel internment, to end
when the war does. The various
Americans who helped them would be
in most serious predicament, instead