Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1917 — A TRUE AMERICAN SAYS OTTO BRAUN [ARTICLE]

A TRUE AMERICAN SAYS OTTO BRAUN

Former Rensselaer Citizen Denies (Rumor That He is Not a True American. During the past week or so there have been many rumors going around relative to Otto Braun, former director of the Rensselaer band and a citizen of this city, but now of Lowell. The rumors were to the effect that Mr. Braun had been arrested by federal authorities and taekn to Indianapolis, on the charges of being disloyal to this country and also of tear* ing up an American flag. A reporter of The Republican met Mr. Braun on a train Thursday and.had quite a long talk with him, and found the little German-American much incensed over the reports. “The reports are untrue and ridiculous,” said Mr. Braun, “and the individual who started such a report i 3 not as true an American as I am.” Nine years ago I became a naturalized American citizen and since that time I have never said one word or committed a single act which could be branded as disloyal. It is true that when the war first broke out in Germany that my sympathies, naturally were with my former country. For nine years I have been a true American patriot and in perfect accordance with the policies of this country.” Continuing, Mr. Braun said, “when any foreign horn American ceases to be loyal to the country in which he is living it is time for him to get out. My love for America is greater than my love for Germany and the Kaiser, and one who is as well acquainted with the conditions in Germany as I am and knows what the 'German citizen is up against, knows that the sooner the Kaiser is dethroned Germany will make a long step toward civilization and becoming a republic.

“Somewhere in the trenches I have brothers fighting for the German cause, if they are not now dead. I have a mother and sisters in Germany whom I have not heard from for several months. Mv love for the Kaiser and the German nation is gone, but no one can take from me that love I have in my heart for my mother, brothers and sisters and I do not think that I should be censured for that,” he added as tears came to his eyes. “Just tell all my Rensselaer friends for me, through your paper, that Otto Braun, is first, last and all the time for America and anyone who circulates stories of disloyalty on nfy part is not as true an American as I am.”