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Show WATCH FOR PROPAGANDA In all discussions of the possibility of United States remaining out of the general European conflict, mention is made of the necessity neces-sity of ignoring and combating propaganda calculated to inflame American sympathies and smother good judgment. Probably President Presi-dent Roosevelt was thinking of partially immunizing American citizens citi-zens to the effects of propaganda when he said in his speech Sunday evening, "It is of the utmost importance that the people of this country, coun-try, with the best information in the world, think things through." and again, "I can add to that by saying that I hope the people of this country will also discriminate most carefully between new9 and rumor. ru-mor. Do not believe, of necessity, everything you hear or read. Check up on it first." ; ' Everyone is agreed that to maintain our peace and safeguard our neutrality, we shall have to disregard an immense amount of prapa- - i- i- ; i l i - j; a1 T - 1 ganda which is continually loosed in our direction. In a speech mad last winter to congress President Roosevelt said, "We have learned that long before an overt military act, agres sion begins with preliminaries of propaganda, subsidized penetration the loosening of ties of good will, the stirring of prejudice and tht incitement to disunion." In the last 20 years propaganda has become a force which is continually con-tinually making and remaking history. It has become a most effective effec-tive battle weapon, for in reality propaganda is ammunition foi assailing the mind. The full effect and importance of favorable, propaganda for a government has never been fully estimated, although we know that through its direct effects several European nations have completely changed their government. The dictators have shown full appreciation for the policy of propaganda. They have raised themselves to power by its force and continue in power by forbidding any counter propaganda. . Before the World war propaganda simply meant the means by which adherents of a political or religious faith attempted to convert the unconverted. Intelligent people have always known that the acceptance ac-ceptance of any cause or principle was furthered by organization and concerted movement. It took the World war to change propaganda propa-ganda into the force it has become today. Before 1914 United States publicity and news men had taken a lead in evolving a journalistic technique of expert methods to further furth-er selfish causes. The tabloids and "yellow journalism" left a permanent perma-nent influence on news writing. By playing certain news up and toning others down, by writing news to play on the emotions, the yellow newspapers showed press agent and propagandist how to influence in-fluence news or slant news, to bring about a definite public reaction. Germany quickly realized that clever use of news agencies and the spread of propaganda would be important in the winning of the World war. Taking lessons from the yellow journalism in United States they slanted news and made news, formed organizations for spread of propaganda, corrupted the presses, used wireless for the spread of propaganda. The allies finally, more slowly, realized that every resource, human hu-man and material, was needed to win the war. Propagandists subsidized sub-sidized news bureaus. They used argument, lies, artistic creation, and here's where the press agent influence made itself felt plain tinkering tinker-ing with the news, most effective method of all. Such success was their reward that government and smart politicians poli-ticians learned lasting lessons. Unlimited political propaganda fol- lowed the World war. Inspiring propaganda is one of the most secret processes known to politics and diplomacy. During the World war governments had shown that in stress of a national crisis the thoughts of people could be regimented as effectively as their persons and property. You needed need-ed only a strict and arbitrary censorship to create a void, a flood of expert propaganda to fill it, and such appeals by sensationalism that emotion would blanket reason. Living in a democratic nation where we have all the facilities of excellent news gathering and news distributing agencies at our command, com-mand, Americans have a good chance to discriminate between news and propaganda. Even at that, often enough erroneous reports are made, usually corrected later, and likely enough reports given by agencies of different countries are for one reason or another falsified falsi-fied in some degree. Whenever a piece of news from a foreign agency is read and considered, it is a good idea to study the stated source of the news and see if you can tell at first glance the purpose behind issuance of that particular news report. A reader should study all foreign news reports with this in mind: Propaganda is employed for selfish purposes. It is highly effective ef-fective in time of war in rousing war spirit and the emotionalism attending such war spirit. We are apt to find many examples of its use in the days to come. In the interests of American peace, we should all endeavor to become expert in recognition of propaganda. This is no easy task. i |