Evening star., 1942-07-12

Full Data Recorded
In Tracing Rumors.
Space is provided for the date OF
the r,nnor and the rumor itself. Also,
the immediate source, the type OF
runnor, the source OF authentic IN
formation in the field of rumor con-
tent. whether or not the rumor IS
validated or disproved, with the GATE
OF such information, and, hnaliy, a
section for remarks.
Laboratory tests show that all too
often rumors follow the short-wave
radio, Mrs. Graham declared.
One of the case histories she Of
fers as a demonstration Of labora-
tory methods is concerned with this
type. 1t involves a familiar speci-
men-described on the record sheet
as the amusing story OF ma.
tionals Of various countries in an
airplane: Briton pushes Greek out
The date was lover extended Pc
riod from fall Of Greece and the
immediate source: Many at al
levels and throughout country:
mainly university and business
groups"
History and the facts of actual
British action are accepted as the
source" of authentic information.
Research disclosed that the story
was first told over short wave by
Lord Haw-Haw.
And the story ceases to be funny
when you know Lord Haw-Haw
started it, Mrs. Graham COM
mented.
Anti-British rumors became es-
pecially prevalent after the last
Roosevelt Churchill conference. she
added.
German Ministry Made
Study of American Humor.
The rumor disseminated In the
guise of a joke is especially inter-
esting to Mrs. Graham, who re-
called trip to the German Ministry
of Information shortly before the
war.
"I was invited to visit special
division with the suggestion that 1t
might prove very interesting, she
related. And it was very inter-
esting, indeed" she reported, for the
division was devoted to q study OF
American hurnor-with careful
analysis of jokes popular in this
country. ~
Rumor carriers" are to be found
In ell levels of society, according
to laboratory reports.
Mrs. Graham's hairdresser in Los
Angeles has turned in consider
able numbers of rumors from the
stories related in the beauty salon.
Columnists and commentators Of
the inside story" and Il predict"
school are often offenders, Mrs.
Graham asserts. She classifies them
under "occupational' type.
And well intentioned efforts to
scotch rumors by publication some
times back-fire. she says.
Some OF the rumors reported
under her laboratory method, she
explained, are discovered to have
originated from careless newspaper
reading.
Her remedy for this would be to
include stamp of the swastika
along with publication of each
rumor of enemy origin The warn
ing would be similar to the skull
and crossbones signifying poison
she believes.
Special Attention Given
Origin Of Reports.
Attention to origin" and method
and end sought" is given specia,
emphasis in the laboratory studies
"Rumor is sometimes true" Mrs
Graham points out in her intro
duction to the laboratory sheet
But if 1t is, it will soon be verified
and cease to be rumor."
She warns, however. that "rumol
is often propaganda under camou.
f1age getting free transportation fol
itself" And later: THE dictator!
have appropriated 1t to their end.
and made 1t factor in the battle
for the mind"
One of the laboratory slogans Is
"Rumor incendiaries prepare for in
cendiary bombs. Make those II
your neighborhood Ineffective
And another: Take 1t to th'
1al,nrn &o,r,t Mnf Ia Nnalr friends