Cordova Daily Times
Entered at the Poatotflce at Cor
dova, Alaska, as second-class matter.
Subscription Rates:
Single Copies .$ .10
One Month. 1.00
81* Months (In advance. 6.00
One Year (in advance). 10.00
H. G. STEEL
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
t
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
, Tbe Associated Press la exclusively
entitled to the use for republication ol
all news credited to it or not other
wise credited in this paper and also
tbe local news published herein.
All rights of republlcatlon of special
despatches herein are also reserved.
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1918
TOO MUCH LOOSE TALK
It is just as important to maintain
community unity as it is to stamp out
pro-German propaganda, and every
loyal American citizen owes it to him
self, as well as his country, to re
frain from indulging in gossip during
war times, especially when it has to
do with his neighbor. There are en
tirely too many rumors circulated in
all small towns, and Cordova is no
exception, in reference to the patriot
ism of individuals. These gain mo
mentum as they are repeated, anj
frequently do an injustice to an inno
cent person.
There is a board of the National
Council of Defense in Cordova, ami
it is the duty of all of our resident
to make known to that body any ir
formation that will tend to be of bene
fit to the government in the success
ful carrying out of its war plans. But
^when that Is done the individual
:should refrain from repeating or fur
ther discussing any charges that may
* .have aiO-fne to his attention. The reg-1
uiarly constituted body will sift all
pro-German and other matters
brought to Its attention, and the ip
formant having performed his duty,
then should keep .his mouth shut. This
is ' erj important for several reasons,
not the least of which is the fact,
tha; a person may unconsciously cir
culate a malicious lie and thereby do'
somebody a great injustice. Wherever j,
•there is any ground for action the!,
t** » k . J
.[National Council of Defense will take
it through the proper channels.
Under the caption of “Swat the •
Spy,” a recent issue of the Saturday
Evening Post published a timely warn
ing to Americans who are very loose
in their talk, and from which the fol
lowing excerpts are taken:
"Just because your neighbor is or
German birth or descent and is now
naturalized, just because someone else
whom you do not know moves into j
your street and talks with a foreign |
accent isn’t prima facie evidence that;
you have discovered a German agent, j
Nor is the fact that someone has In
dignantly announced that he wouldn’t
buy Liberty bonds or that America
had no business in the war anyway.
These things may be contributory
facts, but they also may prove to be
the irresponsible gossip of misguided
people.
“So far as the United States govern
ment is concerned, it gives everybody
a clean bill of health as to utterances
before April 6, 1917. That is the di
viding line. When the United States
was not a belligerent many people
sympathized- with Germany. Just why
this was so it is not necessary now
— 1 .. - ■■. —..
r
to Inquire. What a man said before
America entered the war is not going
to be used against him if his Ameri
canism thereafter is sound; but in
the event of suspicious behavior, of
course, things that happened prior to
j April 6 may throw an interesting light
on the personal history of the one
suspected.
“The government at Washington
wants to discourage spy hysteria.
There are millions of loyal berw&n
Americans who are now even more
zealous than ever to prove their fidel
ity to the cause of their adopted coun
try, and thoughtless individuals who
can heap no end of injustice and cru
elty upon those who are Americans
not by chance but by choice.
“On the other hand, the existence
of a spy peril is not an abstract mat
ter; it is a concrete fact. Spies and
enemy agents have been detected al
ready and more of them can be caught
in the future if loyal citizens are on
the. watch .
“There’s one kind of letter, how
ever, that is absolutely ignored and
valueless. It is the anonymous com
munication. Instances have occurred
in which bitter controversies of a per
sonal character have resulted in ma
licious attempts by one enraged indi
vidual to produce embarrassment for
another by reporting alleged spy ac
tivities. Persons who are discovered
in such practices render themselveis
liable to legal complications of e. seri
ous character. The government is not
interested in your personal enemies,
but in the foes of the nation.
“When the loyal American observes
suspicious behavior and is sincerely!
anxjous to combat spies he should, of
course, sign his own name and ad
dress. His part in the affair will not
be disclosed. A plain statement of
the circumstances under which a sus
pect was observed should be sent to
either the department of justice Tn
Washington or to the federal agencies
in any of the large citie§. If there is
no United States marshal or United
States district attorney in your im
mediate vicinity the postmaster will
forward the complaint to the nearest
office of investigation. Whenever in
doubt, write direct to the division of
investigation of the department of
justice in Washington.
“Loyal citizens must be guided by
the circumstances of each case, but
in general they are advisod to keep
even their suspicions to themselves
after they have reported to the proper
officials. Gossip can do not good and
may do a great deal of harm. Just
because you fail to receive a reply to
your communication is no reason to
suppose that attention has not been '
given it. Either' there is no founda
tion for suspicion or the government,
as frequently happens, is permitting
the spy to operate so as to catch his
iccomplices too. Your duty is done
ivhen the authorities are notified. 1
“All doubts, it must be remembered, *
ire resolved by the department of jus- .
ice, which conducts prosecutions
hrough United States district attor
leys. And no one is interned or in- 1
licted without thorough investigation,
innocent persons need have no fear
that mere suspicion will be accepted
as proof.
"But the greatest menace to Amer
ica is not in the spy who conveys
military and naval information to the
enemy across or under seas. After
all, the United States is three thou
sand miles away from the conflict, and
German spies abound in Great Brit
ain and France, where the opportuni
ties to smuggle news through neutral
countries and by means of the skip
pers and seamen on neutral ships
that pass to and from entente ports
are much moro numerous than in the
United States. America must be on
guard against a more subtle enemy
than the military spy—the enemy
propagandist.
"The ordinary conception of a prop
agandist is either a German who
makes public speeches or one who
writes pro-German communications to
the newspapers. All this was true
before the United States became a
belligerent. The means now used are
mere indirect but no less vicious. De
struction of property is more easily
curbed than the destruction of a na
tion’s spirit. And to that end the
insidious operations of the enemy are
today dedicated.
“Germany’s avowed purpose with re
spect to the United States is to pro
duce serious divisions of opinion. The
German general staff from the start
has argued of its numerous enemies:
‘Those whom we cannot destroy we
shall divide.’ History alone will tell
how great a part paid agents of Ger
many had in producing the chaos now
regnant in Russia. Italy was almost
subserved, but was saved in time. Ef
forts to detach France and constant
pleadings with Japan are open secrets.
Both nations have loyally revealed the
manner of that intrigue. Therefore,
when the United States of America,
most powerful of all allies, most re
sourceful, most wealthy in men and
money—entered the lists, the German
government at first scoffed. ‘What
-an they do, with the Atlantic ocean
between us and the submarine so ef
fective?’ But neither distance noj
the torpedo is invincible.”
--♦
MORE COMM VESSELS
OJOEOEO1) GUM
WASHINGTON, May 17—The
Jnited States shipping board has con
xacted for the construction of four
;oncrete tankers and four concrete
jargo vessels.
-»
FISH MARKET
KETCHIKAN, May 17— Halibut,
irsts, 1316c; seconds, 1014c; sable
ish, 4c; red rock, 2c.
class:fied advertising.
A/ANTED—Stenographic position for
month or six weeks. Mrs. V. P.
Abbott, Windsor hotel.
LOST—Key ring, with three Keys,
return to Times office.
FOR SALE—Box couch. Apply Man
hattan Hotel.
WANTED—Boat builders and ship car
penters. Apply to Ohm Fish & Pack
ing Co. 11-tf
FOR SALE—1 4 H.P. Vulcan Marine
Engine complete. Inquire Blum
O’Neill Co. 9-16
FOR SALE—Gas beat “B. F. M„ forty
two foot, twelve-foot beam, ten tons
net, thirty-six horse power, Kahlen
berg engine, full equlpnflnt Ad
dress W. R. Millard, Valdez. 5-4-2w
FOR RENT—Nice, large, front room,
suitable for housekeeping. Apply
J. K. Smart. 3-2t
FOR RENT—Six unfurnished cot
tages. Cordova Abstract & Realty
Co., Adams building.
LOST—Bunch of keys; one pass key,
two trunk keys, two safety deposit
keys and beer opener on small ring.
Finder return to Alaskan hotel.
PIANO FOR SALE—Price $250. Write
Mrs. J. C. Martin, Valdez, Alaska,
for further particulars.
FOR SALE—A piano. Apply to Thos.
S. Scott 17-tf
FdR RENT—Cabins. See Dooley.
SUNMY-SSSSS TffllRSnff-SkSSS
nONDAY-^^ FRIDAY»«S
TUESM- 'WIILATIXSS S/ffMMY«££!i
WEDNESM~££££f
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| Good Printing
Is Essential to Good Business
Better Let Us Figure on your
Work and Save Money.
The Daily Times Job Dept.
n, vvvv^ .. I
OVER $100,000.00 IN DEPOSITS
On May 15th deposits were over $102,000.00.
The BANK OF ALASKA has reached its first
objective in less than nine months from the
date of opening in Cordova.
We wish to thank our patrons for their loyal
support and to invite those who are not now
depositors to become associated with the
Bank of Alaska
THE THIRD LIBERTY LOAN
BONDS RECEIVED
The first consignment of full paid Bearer
Bonds have been received. All those who paid
during the earley part of the campaign may
call and receive their bonds.
Bank of Alaska
Alaska’s Branch Banking System
8 __
Rocks—Sulphurous Waters—Oils
—just as they come “Hi- « ^ <
Press” takes them on and
* beats them. There never
m
MARINE ENGINES-ALL SIZES IN STOCK
LOEW-VICTOR — NEW CLAY — ANDERSON — MILLER
The World’s Recognized Fishermen’s Engines, 4-Cycle, Extended Steel Bases
MINING MACHINERY MARINE - HARDWARE CANNERY SUPPLIES
Harmon Machinery company, Inc.
_CORDOVA, ALASKA
I