Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-04

New York, June 3.-David IIirsh-
field, commissioner of accounts, who
was delegated by Mayor Hylan in
December. 1921, to investigate
charges that American history text
books used in the public schools con-
tanned anti-American propaganda
and besmirched American traditions,
tonight made tpublic his report in
which he specifically condemned
eight histories selected by the SUI
perintendent of schools and took to
task a number of well known per-
sons and societies.
1T would SEEM" said the commits
sioner, 'as if these authors wanted
to convey the impression that o.
history, our government and every
thing else American, is all wrong
and that the sole hope for American
progress lies in our renouncing our
American traditions, surrenderinS
our American spirit and becoming
again an integral partsof the British
Empire, as Cecil Rhodes declared in
the first draft of his will"
lie 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 furnace
and those responsible for those books
be branded as I'M American"
individuals and societies criticized
by the commissioner for fostering
propaganda" include Andrew Car
negie. Elihu Root, chairman of the
Carnegie Council. the American
History Teachers Association, Lord
The English-S Speaking Union, The
Sons of ST. George, John w. Davis,
"a lawyer for j. i. Morgan and the
international banking interests"
George w. Wickersham another
Morgan lawyer" the Sulgrave In
stitute, another hands across the
sea- organization composed of British
and pro- British" the Pilgrim Society,
the Church Peace Union the World
Alliance for promoting international
friendship through the churches,
Bishop James Cannon. Dr. Harry
Emerson Fosdick. Hamilton Holt.
The American Association for Inter
national Cooperation, the Magma
Charta Day Association. Lady Aston,
and the National Security League.
The commissioner said that he
found that school children were be-
ing taught such misrepresentation
as the following:
That the American Revolution
was merely a civil war between the
English people on both sides Of the
sea and their German king:
"rhat the Magma Charta is the
real author of our libertis. while the
declaration of independence eXerted
no vital force;
THAT such patriots as Samuel
Adams, John Hancock and Patrick
Henry were mere disrcputable char
actcrs;
THAT Thomas Jefferson deserved
| a halter;
THAT the war of 1912 was "a mis-
take 'disgracefur and unfortunate
That the north saved the union
only through England's heroic sup
port:
THAT our war with Spain was won
because England prevented Germany
anu an LuiOPC IioiiA tuhllS SiuSo
against u.s."
Fancuil Hall, The Cradle of Lib
erty' is of no consequence in the
histories condemned, the commits
soner found, nor is the mutiny act,
the stamp act, or the Boston Massa :
Gre.
The commissioner declared that to
his mind the gravest menace to the
friendship between America and
| Great Britain lies lin the pernicious
| and persistent British propaganda in
the United States"
He recommended a return TO tie
admonitions of George Washington,
who advised the observance of good
faith and justice towards all nations
and the cultivation Of peace ana har-
mony with all"
II believe" the commissioner lid,
that it is now clearly apparent that
the concerted .revisions of the ten
offending American school historic
did not come by chance coincidence,
but as the result of thoroughly or
ganized and heavily financed activi-
ties. And also that the international
mind sought to be established
through these influences. is always
the British mind"