Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-23
,PR0BERS AIRING
PROPAGANDA IN
U.S.PUBL|CAT|0NS
Political Intent of Articles in
School Life Denied by
DR.. Ciaxton.
EDITORIALS FAV0RING
COVENANT ARE FOUND
William Barnes, Jr., Heard on
Book His Firm Pub
lished.

publications in support OF tie iedS ut
of nations plan and in support OF GOV
Cox, the democratic nominee. was in
CURED into today by the Senate COM
mittee investigating campaign expendi-
tures.
DR.. PIP. Claxton, United States COM
missioner of education, was called
upon to testify regarding certain edi-
torials and articles which appeared In
publications issued under the bureau
Of education, of which he is chief An
editorial appearing In the September
/ issue of School Life, which com.
ments favorably upon the attitude OIL
Gov Cox toward educational matters.
was called to his attention by Senator
KENYON, chairman of the committee
Denies Political Intent.
DR.. Claxton assured the committee
that there was no intention on the part
of the editor of School Life or on his
own part to indulge in partisan propa-
randa He said that for the last two
years School Life had been issued by
the bureau for the purpose OF giving
school officers and teachers information
regarding educational matters IN all
narfs of the world and for the promo
tion of desirable tendencies IN ednca-
tional matters.
He called attention to the shortage
of teachers which has existed in TINS
country, to the high cost OF living
and to the meager salaries paid teach
ers. The witness said that the bureau
had undertaken to make nat1on-Wlde
campaign to obtain better conditions
for teachers, and that part of this cam
paign was to put before laymen the
opinions Of leaders on educational mat
ters.
Matter Impartial.
He pointed out that In the issue of
July 1. 1920. extracts from the re-
publican platform on education were
published in School Life; that in the
issue Of August Is extracts from ootr
republican and democratic platforms
relating to educational matters were
published and also letters received
from Senator Harding and Gov. Cool
fdge and from Gov. Cox ana FRANK
lin D. Roosevelt.
Senator Kenyon said that apparent
1y School Life had been impartial,
since IL prffited the statements OF all
the candidates up to the September l
issue In that issue, sbe@~easd.szfRs'
editorial comment Was confined ex-
for Pfesident. praisins his stand.
It was brought out in the testimony
that School Life Is issued twice
month. with 4 circulation of 10000.
witness Says 1t Was sIistake.
DR.. cIaxton told the committee that
the editorial in question. in his opin-
ion, should not have been published
since 1t commented only on the views
Of the candidate of one party. It's
publication, he said. was mistake.
He testified that he had. when he saw
the copy, ordered that it be held up,
but that it then was too late. as it
already had been printed. He said
that he had asked the editor about it
and that he had dfsavowed any at
tempt at partisan politics
The publication of School Service,
which was originally started by the
Creel bureau as an air in the war,
was also inquired into by the commit
tee DR.. Claxton said it had been
turned over to the Department Of the
Interior with an allotment of about
$4,000 from the war emergency fund
given the President by Congress. some
time after the armistice was signed.
This publication. he said, had cir
culation of about 850,000. going to all
the school teachers and school OFF,
publication was discontinued in May,
1919.
Kenyon Tells of Editorials.
Senator Kenyon called attention to
the fact that in a report of the COM
mittee on printing it was pointed out
that many articles in favor of the
league of nations were published in
School Service, and that none in op-
position to the league were published,
and that an attempt had been made
openly to convert the school teachers
Of the nation to the league plan, The
senator had before him copies Of vari-
Gus issues of School Service, all ad-
vocating the league.
DIR. C1axton testified that the allot-
ment for School Service was made to
the Secretary of the Interior by the
President; that the editorial staff of
School Service was continued as be-
fore, and that the direction of the
publication was put under Herbert
Kaufman, then an assistant to the
Secretary of the Interior. and that it's
ofices were in the Interior building,
while his office was in the Pension
building.
He said he thought DR.. Bagly was
the editor. None of the articles, he
said. on the league of nations had
been passed upon by DR.. Claxton.
Senator Kenyon also inquired re-
garding propaganda contained in 9TH
er government publications. including
the GreaS Lakes Bulletin. but DR..
C1axton said he had no knowledge
about it.
Senator Reed called the attention of
the witness to the fact that Congress
did not make any specific appropria-
tion for the publication of School
Service. since it was paid for out of
the hundred million dollars given the
President for war purposes.
Il just wanted to exonerate Con-
gress from any part in this proceed
ing" said Senator Reed
Financing OF Barnes Book.
Complete investigation of the
financing of the book. "Republicanism
in 1920" published by the Albany
IN " Journal, was ordered today by
the committee.
William Barnes, jr., head of the
company. was formally directed to
produce the subscription lists for the
book. although he contended that the
venture was a purely private COM
merciaf transaction and not proper
matter for investigation by the com.
mittee.
Mr.. Barnes agreed to telegraph his
office for the data required and said
he hoped the matter could be furnished
to the committee by Saturday
The agreement to investigate sub
ecription lists for the book was
reached by the committee at a con.
ference which pUPoded the hearing
Senator Edge Of 1ooW Jersey said il
had been uuAnl10uy decided thai
the pubIicatAan w6S rapublican prop
aganda" and should be investigated
on that account. Mr. Barnes had testi.
fed that none of the funds derived
from the transa c0O had gone to tn,
republican nationaa 0mmittee.
Before the committee ruling was an
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