Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1918 — THOSE MISGUIDED PRO-GERMANS [ARTICLE]

THOSE MISGUIDED PRO-GER-MANS

There is little doubt but what a very large percetage of the German voters have been throwing their support to the Republican ticket in the last two electons and I have always thought they were misguided in so Soing, but my opinion in no wise alters the facts. Whether by common consent or through organization the work was done, • I do hot know, but I do know that the evidence of its doing is well at hand. There is one township in Tippecanoe ebunty where there are 38 known Democrats —or rather there were 38 before the war. A few of these men refused to subscribe to any of the war activities and it is said there are nearly a dozen who do not own liberty bonds, or if they do the amount of them is so small that they will never need a clipping machine to cut off the Interest coupons.

They gave no encouragement to the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., the K. of C., or any other war charity so far as I have been able to learn. They opposed conscription and the war program generally. They were not out spoken—certainly not, but their actions spoke louder than wo"ds. They didn’t do anything—they didn’t say anything. When the votes of this township were canvassed on November sth the Democrats had from 24 to 27 votes for their various candidates. The returns were clear —the re-

suits proved two prepositions— First, that the Republicans did not vote the Democratic ticket. Second, that these anti-war Democrats voted the Republican ticket. Now the war is over and there comes a general summing up. The armistice is to be followed by a peace parley. President Wilson contended from the start that we were not fighting the German people, but the German autocratic government. Supposing that President Wilson is successful in establishing in Germany a democratic form of government, which is of everlasting benefit to the German people, supposing that the military program which so many good German citizens came to this country to escape or have their children escape is forever ended and the people rule Germany by the ballot where the kaiser formerly ruled by the sword; supposing other unhappy lands are freed of autocracy and independent free governments are set up and the world is really “made safe for democracy,’’ what then will be the attitude of the German sympathisers in this country?’’ Such a program would mean the making of the fatherland, a land of equal opportunity and some of the relatives and friends of the Germans in this country may possibly become officers instead of peasants and their sons would have chances which the iron heel of militarism had crushed for them in the past. Would these voters still oppose Mr. c Wilson; would they yet vote the Republican ticket because the President protected them at home and saved their relatives and friends in Germany? The end of the war was brought about by the entry of America; its money, men and resources, and is there a loyal citizen of the United States who regrets its ending? Is there one who prefers that battles go on; that men be killed; that women and children suffer to the end that the ambition of one man may be gratified? Or do they feel thankful that the day of carnage is over and that Woodrow Wilson, aided by the brave sons of America, performed for civilization this splendid service? “He ended the war.” Or “He ended autocracy,” may suc-

ceed "he kept us out of war” as a campaign slogan in 1920 and I am anxious to know whether those few fellows in the township I speak of will feel that a service has been whether they will continue to worship the kaiser and the things he stood for.—Tippecanoe County Democrat.