The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-09
GERMANS OBSERVE
 ANNUAL OCCASION Songs and Speeches are Heard
 With Pleasure
JUDGE WEAKLEY SPEAKS
German Thrift and Energy Would Make the Lands of Alabama the Richest in the World-Ad-
 vocates Small Farms.

 spirit in the Turn-Verein hall last night by the German-Ameriean citizens resi- dent in Birmingham.
 An excellent musicale programme was prepared and rendered in frst-class style. Addresses were delivered in the German language by Emil Lesser, president of the Turn-Verein. and by Frank Deedmeyer, the well-Snown attorney. Chief Justice Weakley delivered an address in English. There was d very large and representa- tive attendance, and all present expressed themselves as being well pleased with the success which attended the celebration.
 The following was the programme; Overture-"Lohengrin ............ Wagner Davidsons Jefferson Theatre Orchestra. (a) "In einem kuehlen Grunde" .Glueck (b) "Studenten Nachtgesang' ......,.,,..
 ....,....,. ...,.. ,...............C. l.. flsher United German Singers under the direc-
 ton of Prof Fred l.. Grambs. Opening Remarks of the Chairman, intro- ducing the German Speaker Frank Deedmeyer.
 (a) Serenade ........... .........,. Schubert (b) "Mutterfreude ..... .......... Boleck
 Vocal Solo, Mrs c. I. Severin English Address, s. D. Weakley Chief
 Justice Supreme Court of Alabama. Morning, Noon and Night" ...,. Souppe
 Orchestra
 Friedrich Rothbart' ................,...,
 ............ .Theo Podbesstky, op. 24 United Singers with Orchestra. under
 direction of Prof. Fred l.. Grambs. Zigeunerweisen' ......A .... .Sarasate
 Violin Solo, Mir. Ed G. Powell Xylophone Solo, with Orchestra .........
 ..... .,....... ...............Mr. Lumsden Die Yacht am Rhein".... Wilhelm
 Singers, Orchestra and Audience.
 Deedmeyer's Address.
 Mir. Deedmeyer. traced the early settle ments of the Germans within the colonies, and the part which the Germans took in the revolutionary war. He pointed out that Germans settled at Port Royal S. C., as early as 1862 and that prior to 1883 many immigrants of that nationality were found in all the colonies from Maine to Georgia.
 Germantown. Pa. the speaker said was founded in 1893, Newburgh- on the udson, in 170S and by 1750 Pennsylvania con tained over 100000 Germans. Early in the eighteenth century Germans settled at Rheinbeck, Schoharie and in the Mohawk valle, New York, Virginia received many
 
 bers of Germans settled in the Shenan- doah valley and, when at the beginning of the last century, there commenced the | movement which sent thousands of Vir- giplas best sons to the south and the | southwest, the descendants of the early | German settlers were found among them | In great numbers.
 It has been estimated, said MT Deed | meyer that 10000 Germans settled in Louisiana during the eighteenth century. | According to the official reports. more | than 100000 Germans landed at the port of New Orleans between 1920 and 1860
 Among the Germans who rose to dis tinction before and during the revoluN tionary war, the speaker named Peter Minnewitt, governor of New Netherlands. The first American lti-mllionaire was John Jacob Astor, born. at Waldorf, Ba- den and John b. Rockefeller. first American ancestor that immgrated to the country from Hessen.
 Mir. Lesser, in introducing Judge Weak lev explained that the celebration of Ger man Day was not intended to be confined to the Germans alone. or to those of Ger man descent but he said that it was customary to invite some prominent na- tive American to participate in the cele- bration by delivering an address, in the English language. He referred to the fact that Judge Weakley had been selected, not only because of the position he holds, but because of his knowledge of German literature and the German language. Judge Weakley.
 Judge Wealkley spoke extemporaneously and without notes. He spoke of the sturdy elements of the German character and of the great contributions the German Americans had made to our American life: and of the pleasure he felt in participant ing in the celebration of the great his torical event. He spoke of the thrift and energy of the German farmer as he had observed him in parts of this state, and of the great benefit that would accrue to Alabama if large holdings of lands could be divided and settled by thrifty German farmers. He also spoke of the importance of the German language in this country and the benefit to be ( q by young Americans <om it's st 9 eongratu- lated the German-An s upon the enterprise and progres5l spirit of their local organ. the German Courier, and congratulate ted the management of that paper upon it's recent supplement, de- signed to induce German immigration into Alabama .Iudop NankleV'S remarxe u-era