Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-08-31
SCHOOL BOOKS CONDEMNED
Hirschfeld Says Eight Text Books,
Several Eminent Men and SOcie-
ties Are Un-American

ties Are Un-American
New York-Ever since the war
there has been a persistent effort, on
the part of foreign propagandists, to
pollute the sources Of American his
tory. A big fund is being spent to
subsidize "historians," and it is quite
amusing, since the uncovering of the
plot took place, to see the sudden
change of front on the part of num-
Der of eminent" high brows to back
track and revise their "histories."
David Hirschfeld, Commissioner of
Accounts, who was recently delegated
by Mayor Hylan in December, 1921,
to investigate charges that American
history text books used in the public
schools contained anti-American pro-
paganda and besmirched American
traditions, has made public his re-
port in which he specifically condemns
eight histories selected by the Super
intendent of Schools and took to task
a number of well-known persons and
societies.
at would seem," said the Commits
sioner, "as if these authors wanted
to convey the impression that our
history, our government and every
thing else American is all wrong and
that the sole hope for American pro-
gress lies in our renouncing our
American traditions, surrendering our
American spirit and becoming again
an integral part of the British En-
pire, as Cecil Rhodes directed in the
first draft of his twill"
He recommended that "any history
which, after $50 years, attempts to
teach our children that the war Of
independence was an unnecessary
war and that it is still a problem as
to who was right and who was wrong
should be fed to the furnaces and
those responsible for those books be
branded as un-American."
Individuals and societies criticised
by the Commissioner "for fostering
propaganda" include Andrew Carne-
gle, Elihu Root, Chairman Of the Car
negie Council; the American History
Teachers Association, Sir Gilbert
Parker, Lord Northcliffe, Owen Wis
ter, George Haven Putnam, the Eng
disappearing Union, the Sons of St.
George, John W. Davis, "a lawyer for
J. P. Morgan and the international
banking interests" George w.
Wickersham, another Morgan lawyer;
Professor Matthey Page Andrews Of
Baltimore, the Sulgrave Institute,
"another -the-sea' organ
ization composed of British and pro-
British" the Pilgrim Society, the
Church Peace Union, the World Ali
ance for Promoting International
Friendship Through the Churches,
Bishop James Cannon, DR.. Harry
Emerson Fosdick, DR.. Sidney L. Gu
lick, Hamilton Holt, the American
Association for International Co.
operation, the Magma Charta Day As
sociation, Lady Astor and the Ma
tional Security League.
during his lengthy investigation, that
school children were being taught
such misrepresentation as the fol-
lowing:
"That the American Revolution was
merely civil war between the Eng
lish on both sides of the sea and their
German King.
"That the Magma Charta is the real
source OF our liberties, While the De-
claration of Independence exerted no
vital force.
"That such patriots as Samuel
Adams, John Hancock and Patrick
Henry were mere disreputable char
acters.
"That Thomas Jefferson deserved a
halter.
"That Alexander Hamilton de-
nounced the people as "a great beast.
"That the United States Constitu-
tion and most of our free institutions
were borrowed from England.
"That the War of 1912 was "a mis-
take 'disgraceful' and unfortunate.
"That the Mexican War was a grab
of territory.
"That the North saved the Union
only through England's heroic sup
port
"That our war with Spain was won
because England prevented Germany
and all Europe from taking sides
against u.s."
Faneuil Hall, "The Cradle of Liber-
tey," is of no consequence in the his
tories condemned, nor is the Mutiny
Act, the Stamp Act or the Boston
Massacre.