The New York herald., 1921-12-10
Lord Northcliffe Charged
With Spending S150,O00,-
900 for Propaganda.
PRO-BRITISH PLOT SEEN
Sons and Daughters Of Ameri-
can Revolution Are Accused
of Helping 1t.

Charges that the Sons and the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton are engaged in the dissemination
OF British propaganda, that Lord
Northcliffe has spent s150,O00,000 to
"buy up American newspapers and
college professors" and that the ex-
istence of the Republic Is threatened
by the activities OF British agents here
were made yesterday before the COM
inittee of the Board of Education ap-
pointed to listen to complaints of "un-
American and pro-British histories"
said to be In use In the New York
public schools.
The hearing was marked by an
nceroity which grew as the afternoon
progressed and by a wide divergence
of criticism regarding alleged facts set
forth in the school books. DR.. Will
lam Irving Sirovish. vice-president OF
the Child Welfare Board, felt ag-
grieved that no mention was made in
some Of the school histories of the
death of Nathan Hale, executed as q
spy by the British during the Revolu-
ton. Abraham Wakeman, who said
he appeared as q Citizen" was criti-
cal. on the contrary, because the his
tories had anything to say regarding
Paul Revere.
why do We teach children about
Paul Revere?" Mr.. Wakeman wanted
to know. TITS only because Longfel-
har M Of T.
of tis poetic name. It's twelve miles from
Boston to Concord and Il took him
from 10 o'clock to midnight to get
there-thats only six miles an hour.
And another thing" went on Mr.. Wake
man. George Washington wasn't the
first President of the United States"---
Ejaculation Of Surprise.
'T thought he was" interrupted
Frederick II. Paine. Brooklyn school
superintendent who teaches history and
is member OF the committee.
NO" said Mr.. Wakeman. "He was
tho first President under the constitu-
ton. but there was another President
before him in 1856. Why don't the
school histories put the children straight
on this. Then they ought to mention
Capt. John Underhili. who commanded
our army of fifty men. was strong
advocate of woman suffrage and was
expelled from Boston for flirting"
The misstatements OF history in the
school books said the Rev. p. j. Cor
mican OF F'ordham University. are due
to systematic effort to "de- Ameri-
canize America" and ultimately to bring
1t back within the British Empire. 1t
was In this connection that the charge
that Lord Northcliffe had spent $780,
100000 for propaganda purposes here
hx tx,t tt,
London Times of July 4. 1919. was cited
as proof that he had n carefully out
lined plan of action. The Carnegie
Foundation, Father Cormcan declared,
pensioned superannuated college pro-
fessors who had been active In doing
Carnegies work" OF endeavoring TO get
the United States back into the British
Empire.
"our children are being poisoned. and
II you poison the young II is only q
question of time before our patriotism
VIII be poisoned" said he. THE Sons
and Daughters Of the Revolution are en-
gagged In the movement. They have been
offering prizes for essays for years,
ostensibly for patriotism, but really to
propagate the views of Great Britain"
Wanted Reporter Elected.
DR.. Thomas McTirnan, commit
tee member, asked that the representa-
tive of one newspaper be elected be-
cause the paper had printed reports of
the hearings which had made the COM
Inittee ridiculous" II chanced--aI-
though the doctor was unaware OF IT.
that no reporter from the offending pub
lication was present. The situation was
saved when Edward Mandell. chairman
of the committee, made some remark
about the freedom of the press" and
"hoped the paper would be fair in the
future"
well. you'll die hoping" was DR..
McTIrnan's pessimistic rejoinder.
Edward r.. McSweeney. who was born
in Canada but who has since lived in
Boston and New York, and who said
he represented the history commission
OF the Knights of Columbus. declared
that British propaganda here had cre-
eted a more critical situation than was
faced by America at the time Of the
Revolution, the civil war or the world
war
"The publishers OF school books have
i. closed shop against the presentation
90 he real facts Of American history"
oa,,S he. "As far as our observing Magma
Cha,, "A Day Is concerned. the Magma
Char d was due only to baronial trade
,,n,or strike against the King. Amer
g. as nothing more to the Magma
80 .star,a ,shan to declarations OF rights
,n,do bv the Dutch In Hungary and In
"rbars bN never hcen a moment since
,ha f,oyoiu, q n when the British havn't
worked 10 p,H America back Goldwin
smith started "A propaganda and James
Rrvce,s .Amerin IN Commonwealth is
the most insidio,A soss oi propasanun,
The British propaA a.uis.s nave ueciueu
10 rewrite American teN' oooNs ana the
fight Is that of den,a cracy against I'M
perialism. Former ~ "oassaaor rage,
himself a publisher Gnd one oi ,ne most
dangerous OF them gan III FS Smoutn,
England. the montn we , wen. INTO .ne
war that the best way 4 ement the
English speaking peoples vas 10 re-
write the American history TEX, oooks
Publisher Putnam IN Londor s'u INA.
Text books are .'ow being ".pareo
which will give a fai-er account Vi i''
and 1877"
Mr.. Mcsweeney said that. WIN ne
didn't mention IL because he "wantcA 70
stir up hate against England" he nc,N
theless thought American school hfN
tories should tell the story Of the sur,
render OF Fort Griswold at New London
TO the British during tho Revolution.
When the American commander offered
his sword hilt foremost. 10 the leader
of the British troops. Mr. McSweeney
said, the latter seized Il and plunged II
shvotUh fho Aynarioan