its connections with the Deutsche Zeitung.
“Conscious of its great responsibility to its members and friends,” the Schnuch announcement continues, “to guarantee the necessary spread and furtherance of the ideals and aims of the League and of all Germandom by an unintimidated combative newspaper, the leadership of the League resolved to continue with the aid of the ‘Deutscher Beobachter’ the fight already begun.”
Dr. Schnuch concludes his statement with the apologetic remark that the first issue, comprising four tabloid pages mostly in German with a few paragraphs of English, is “a makeshift.”
Among persons who have observed the dogged perseverance of the Nazi leaders here in prosecuting the war against Jews, the opinion is being openly expressed that the Beobachter is nothing but a palpable subterfuge to enable the sponsors of the Deutsche Zeitung to evade the spirit of their promise to Judge Taylor.
Lending credence to this suspicion are two outstanding facts. The first is the sudden appearance of the publication simultaneously with the announcement of the Deutsche Zeitung’s change of heart on the anti-Semitic problem. The second, and of even greater significance, is the connection between the personnel of the new paper and the old.
Dr. Schnuch, who has assumed editorial responsibility for the Beobachter, in the last post office statement published by the Deutsche Zeitung was listed as one of the three stockholders of the D. Z. Publishing Company, publishers of the Yorkville paper.
At the same time, it was learned that Walter Kappe, editor of the German section of the Deutsche Zeitung is no longer connected with that publication. An unconfirmed report stated that Kappe is now the guiding editorial spirit of the new weekly.
In the meantime, McLaughlin, whose name is signed to the apology, bobbed up as president of the D. Z. Publishing Company. Earl Voelcker was formerly listed as the titular head of the organization. McLaughlin emphatically denies that he has any connection with the Deutscher Beobachter and says he has no intention whatever of being connected with it in any way whatever.
The full text of the Deutsche Zeitung apology follows:
“We cannot believe that any fair-minded reader will think the less of us if in a spirit of sincerity and self-respect we make public confession of a very serious blunder we have committed and ask the pardon of all. concerned.
“In its issue of July 7, 1934, this publication printed a libelous and most regrettable statement attacking the character and legal integrity of Hon. Joseph Goldstein of Brooklyn. After having carefully deliberated this matter and having come to a full realization of the gravity of our act, we now wish to retract that statement and we most humbly apologize for it both to Judge Goldstein and the Jewish community of which he is a member. We freely acknowledge that our attack upor this gentleman and through him upon the Jewish people was unwarranted, unconscionable and unfounded. This incident shows how necessary it is to use care in the editing of a newspaper so as not to wrongfully attack the character of any person or people.
“We have begged the pardon of Judge Goldstein and have been magnamiously favored by his assurance that he entertains no ill-will. We are fully aware of how deeply our unfortunate utterance pained and embarrassed him and placed him in an entirely false light before all who saw the offensive article and we are the most appreciative of his gracious and generous indulgence. Knowing that in connection with this matter Judge Goldstein was subjected to a great deal of inconvenience and expenditure of valuable time and effort, we felt it was only right and proper to offer to compensate him by way of lamages for the injury we had caused him and it is worthy of note that he steadfastly refused to accept money damages from us because he believed that this situation was entirely a moral issue which could not be expressed in terms of money and that the wrong which had been done, really concerned the Jewish community rather than himself individually. We are happy to acknowledge that this attitude of Judge Goldstein is a well-known trait of Jewry which has our profoundest respect. We also crave the forgiveness of the reading public and particularly of the Jewish people who we sincerely trust, in keeping with their splendid traditions and precepts of forgiveness which permits them to harbor no vindictive feelings, will find it possible to overlook our transgression.
“Deutsche Zeitung
“D Z Publishing Corporation
“W. L. McLaughlin,
President.”
The text of the announcement regarding the paper’s change of policy follows:
“We wish to inform all of our subscribers in particular and the reading public in general that after very careful consideration we have determined to put into immediate effect a drastic change of editorial policy.
“We have come to the realization that in this blessed land dedicated to the ideals of democracy and justice for all regardless of race or creed all enmities and prejudices between races and peoples of various origins who reside here and all of whom are presumed to be equally under the protection of the laws and institutions of this country are altogether unworthy and out of place.
“Therefore, entertaining the warmest feelings of devotion and attachment to everything that was splendid and inspiring in the land of our birthplace, we desire to proclaim our unswerving allegiance and fidelity to the high principles and traditions of this land in which we live and work and of which we consider ourselves an integral part.
“Accordingly we very earnestly wish to disclaim and disavow any incitement to racial or religious animosities for which this publication may hitherto have been accused. Henceforth we will permit nothing to appear in this paper which can in the slightest degree either by direct, expression or by indirection, by inference or by innuendo be construed as an attack upon the character of any race or people or of any individual referred to by name or by imputation to the disparagement of any such race or people.
“We will adhere strictly and unswervingly to the highest principles of decent and lawful journalism and not only will we eschew all encouragement of racial prejudices but we will absolutely refrain from all libelous and inflammatory articles, editorials and statements of any kind.
“We shall have nothing to do with any organizations or movements which made for strife and friction between various groups of citizens and persons who reside in this country. We have come to the conviction that those persons in this land who sincerely feel that the boycott of the merchandise of any foreign land is heir only peaceful weapon with which to combat the inhumanity of which the government of such foreign land may be guilty are fully entitled to the use of that weapon. We will not support any counteraction against such boycott.
“We have not now and will never in the future have any connection or association either financially or otherwise with any foreign government or with the propaganda agencies of such government if such propaganda is found to be inimical to the best interests of the people of the United States.
“We earnestly trust that this announcement of our complete change of editorial policy will receive the favor and approval of all our readers as well as of all who are interested in human welfare, in the promotion of good will and a better understanding between the peoples of various racial and religious origins who reside in this country.
“D Z Publishing Corporation
“W. L. McLaughlin,
President.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
