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6 THE VITAL ISSUE
DEAR READER- In order to bring this article to the notice of a large numbergof newspapers, especially those under British
to forward this. article at once to the‘ Egitor of r.;im1;3l;:: lf;1ve)'Dcl:;"5sC.C“9“‘
you reprints of this article at the rate o 1 rec rep
we request on
glad to sen
If you d
AN APPEAL TO ALL NEWSPAPER EDITORS
IN AMERICA AND CANADA
TO CONDEMN BRITISH RACE-TREACHERY
The Meanest Crime otAges, a Crime So Low that it was Unknown History till Now.
REMEMBER
the British Have Brought the Japanese, the Hindus, and the Russians into this lVar.
BRITISH RACE TREACHERY is a FACT,
but BREAKING of Belgian Treaty 21 BRITISH LIE
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Accidently I heard of three letters.
They form an interesting correspondence.
The first a letter from an old mother to her son, a newspaper owner, in which she
reports to him what she hears.
mother that .
given, unnecessary details are left out.
Bay City, Mich., Sept. 19, 1914.
My dear Son:
You have probably heard from Edith that I returned borne three
weeks later than reckoned. " " “ ur friends in Dayton, Richmond,
Philadelphia kept me longer than I intended to stay. " ' " ncle
ohn ‘ had a beautiful celebration for their
Golden VVeddinIg. 200 people came from all over the United
States. Aunt It ary understands your absence because of your newspaper,
especially since the war is on.
I now that you want to know how the people here feel. Lots
of people do not like your aper any more. John S. and Peter C. have
stopped it. Deacon II. an a. dozen of his church say they would not
have it in their house. He is going all over town. and says that the
papers are full of lies. You know how quick and active he is.
My dear sort, your paper is not right. They have shown me articles
which are wrong.
In Dayton and Philadelphia I heard the same talk about the news-
papers. Lots people said that the newspapers could not be trusted;
that they were full of lies, and some people used even worse names.
Fifty years ago it was different. “ ‘ ’ XVhe
pea le had res ect for newspapers, they
of t is seems to ave changed. “ ’ ' It may be that you personally do
not know what was printed, but you have printed wrong statements.
and like your mother, I am telling you that you made a mistake, and
the sooner you right the wrong, the better it will be. " ' "
Your loving mother,
As the result of the above correspondence and w
n
trusted them, now all
TO NEWSPAPER OVVNERS AND EDITORS IN
AMERICA AND CANADA.
At the outbreak of the European‘ VVar you prob-
ably had the important question to decide, whom you
would favor in this World-VVar, whether the so-called
allies or the Germans. A grave question indeed, es-
pecially considering the mixed population of the United
States.
To follow absolutely the laudable Neutrality
Proclamation of President Wilson is almost an impos-
sibility for a newspaper-man to accomplish.
pers have to print news. They must print something
for their readers. That is their function. If you were
to be absolutely neutral, you would not print a single
line of war news. But information on the war is also
news and your paper. has to fulfil its function.
. The next best thing you can do, is to be fair and
impartial in the treatment of news. There are times
when a man is judged, must be judged, not by what
he does: but b)’ What he omits to do. You control the
Newspa-
Second, the reply of the son, in which he defends the
policy of his newspaper for the sake 'of “business." Third
he is “wrong and foolish too.”
, a sharp reproach from the
Only extracts of the correspondence are
Chicago, Ills., Sept. 22, I914.
Dear vold Mother:
Your letter of September 19th received. Glad to tell you that ‘ ' '
your report about the newspapers has had my best attention. It shows
that you are still a good business woman. It is very interesting to me,
because I receive from you, my dear Mother. the truest and most un-
biased advice I can expect in this world. >“ " ‘ have spoken
to the circulation Manager, and to one of my Editorial Writers, and
whilst both agree that we have printed some strong material, they say:
“VVe cannot very well change our policy now." do not hesitate to tell
you that I have made numerous enemies since this war broke out, and
sometimes I am very sorry that we have attacked Germany as we did.
' ' ' realize myself that we have made a serious mistake, but to
change front now is impossible. " '. "
our loving son,
FRED.
Bay City, Mich., Sept. 23, 1914.
My dear Fred.
I hasten to reply to your letter. ' " I have two strong reasons.
During the last two days I have heard some more talk against your
Some eoplc are very angry about it. " ' ' So much for the
Stil more important is your honor.
code of morals; the same rock-bound principles. which he .
his private life. Ilis business honor she be one and the ram: with
his private honor. He cannot be honest. and fair; unless he is honest
and fair in everything.
never knew one of my sons to be afraid. and, Fred, I want you
to have the same courage as all my children. Do not be guided IJY
your Circulation Manager. Be guided by your conscience. I-Ionesty.
courage and ir dealings are the best business. Your Editorgarid
Manager ought to know that, and you can now tell them that neither
of them knows what good business re ly is. " ' "
Your loving Mother.
. . g g ith a little assistance from “other sources," :1 rather
important paper saw its mistake and changed its policy
columns of your paper. You are the absolute master
of it. It is within your power to influence and mold
public opinion by comment and argument. You have
your choice to act in the open or in the dark. You can
be outspoken or you can use argumentative trickery.
Strange enough a large number of American
papers have accused and condemned Germany and the
German Kaiser as having caused the European war.
Have you stated in your columns the full reason for
this assumption? Or have you been so gullible and
fallen perhaps innocently and completely under the in-
iiuence of the British press.
Do you not know that the British cut the German
cable so that they might fool you and fool the Ameri-
can public? You know that a large number of people
are influenced by whatever they see in print. YOU
know also that a successive appearance of nothing but
British news written and doctored-up in London, must
create a rather one-sided impression throughoutthe
world.
, , , influence.
0 not wish to mutilate this copy, we will I):