Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1918 — JACOB SCHWARTZ—FARMER [ARTICLE]

JACOB SCHWARTZ —FARMER

In the settlement where I lived before moving to town was a thrifty j German farmer, with whom I was I quite intimate. I admired him because he was an intelligent man, as well as industrious, and manifested all the thriftiness and efficiency which characterize his race. A few weeks ago I dropped him a card saying that I would be in his town at a certain date, and would be glad to see him, if he had any time to waste. He met me at the depot with his car. On the way home we came to the back side of his farm, and turned into his private road to look things over. Everywhere were the signs of a manager who knows his business. The corn fields were clean, and had been given such thorough culture that, ih spite of early frost, he had fifty per cent of salable corn, and a plenty of good seed for next season. The pastures where he grazed his Holsteins were not overstocked, but showed an abundance of good feed. The hogs were running in a rape field, and my ifriend is a strong advocate of that forage for swine. A big patch of mangels near the barn lot would supply good feed for both hogs and cows. Turning in among the buildings, we passed a small but well kept orchard, loaded with good fruit. After leaving the car at the garage, he took me through the big feed barn, where the mows were brimful of timothy and clover. ! I hadn’t seen Schw'artz since Uncle Sam got caught in the war hurricanp, and was a little doubtful about his attitude. He is a fullblooded German, born near Nuremberg, but brought to this country in infancy and given a fair American education. I wanted "to draw him out, and said: “It’s a pity that we had to be involved in this big war.” “Yes, it’s hard for many reasons.’’ “It’s especially hard,” I replied, “for citizens of German birth with so many ties binding them to the country o’! their birth.” “That’s it —that’s right,” he said. “Myself and two brothers are the only ones of my family in this country, and I’ve got nearly a ; dozen cousins and uncles in the German armies, or have had, for some of them have been killed.’’ "Tough—tough,” I said. “It is almost inevitable that your sympathies should be with your friends.” I was trying to be very charitable and to see it from his >point of view. Schwartz shook his head and gritted his teeth. "No, you’re wrong. I can feel for my family friends, bat I’m American through and through.

My father left the old country to get rid of arbitrary rule. fHfe wanted freedom for his boys. And the President is right, it’s a struggle for democracy. There are many German soldiers who would rather be on,o*ur side if they could be. I feel sorry for them, and for my own friends fighting for the kaiser —'but I don’t sympathize with them in the sense that I want them to win, for I don’t.’’ He paused a moment, and then went on. “Look at what the chances and privileges this country have done for me. I could never have had such an estate in Germany. I woiild be a fool to turn against this country. The line had to bp drawn, and it cuts me loose from my old associations. As long as I can scrape up a dollar, I’ll buy Liberty bonds and give to the Red Cross. My two sons will have to fight, and I’m glad they’re old enough. They are keen to be in it—and I have only held them back to get this year’s cropp in.” He talked on in the same vein while we went into the house, and at the supper table Mrs. Schwartz and the boys joined in the conversation. The whole family was eagerly loyal to American ideals and institutions. I thought after leaving them that we need not fear for intelligent “German-Americans.” Perhaps, as a whole, American-born citizens do not have charity enough for those who are tempted to disloyalty. The test is a very hard one in many cases. —-W. E. Hinkley in the Farmers’ Review.