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April 18, 1917 _ “AMERICA FIRST AND AMERICA ONLY” Price Five Cents ‘)
A PLEA TO. THE PRESS
Special Attention of City Desks
men regarding the ethics of the world-war. The majority of papers have, however,
since the beginning, espoused-the cause of the Allies as against that of the Central
Powers—while a small minority took the opposite view.
Crane of the Press: There has been a difference of opinion among newspaper
‘This was before the entry of our country in the capacity of a belligerent. From now on it is
the expressed, plain duty of all loyal citizens to consider the interests of siete! solely.
Up to this point our fellow editors will unanimously agree with us. “7
Now, however, the time has come for publishers, as well as citizens, to prove the depth of
their sincerity as patriots. Viereck’s Weekly is one of the small minority group which vigor-
ously opposed the entry of America into the international conflict. When an adverse decision
was rendered by the high tribunal of national demand, we completely withdrew our opposition
BECAUSE WE CONSIDER IT TO BE THE OBLIGATION AND DUTY OF A PAPER TO
AVOID ADDING TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF OUR GOVERNMENT at a time when that
Government needs the’ undivided support of all its sons.
Some of you, for reasons of prejudice, some from conviction, have taken, throughout the
progress of the war, an anti-German standpoint. We are at last finally at war with Germany and
we shall obtain, by force of arms, redress for the indignities we have suffered at her hands.
This should be sufficient to satisfy the bitterest enemies among us of the German Government.
We think that now all newspapers should unite in aiding our country to cope with the situation
ahead; and this aid is badly rendered when a newspaper wastes its valuable space in seeking to keep
open old wounds, or in trying to sow prejudice, dissension and distrust at home, here, against our
German American citizens and neighbors. The newspaper which pursues this policy is doing our
country and the fair name of American justice an irreparable injury.
We honestly believe that the majority of our fellow publishers who have been—and are still—
guilty of this conduct, are actuated by the most patriotic of motives. But if, to-day, an individual,
or newspaper editor, professes to believe in the principles of true Americanism and undivided
patriotism, then we think that these words, proclaimed only a few days ago by our President,
should go to his heart and guide, in the future, his tongue and pen with more fairness: “We are,
let me say, the sincere friends of the German people . . . we shall happily still have an opportunity
to prove that friendship in our daily attitude and actions towards the millions of men and women
of German birth who live among us... they are most of them as true and loyal Americans as if
they had never known any other felity or allegiance.”
When President Wilson sets such an example we think thet. ~ need be ashamed to follow it.
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