The Washington herald., 1908-03-19
HONOR DR.. HEXAMER
Founder of Alliance Given
Reception by Germans.
LICENSED SALOON DEFENDED
Guest of Evening Asserts II Is Time
the People should Fight for Their
Personal Liberty or EIse Surrender
to PetticOat GOvernment-ReDre-
sentative BarthOIdt Speaks.

Or. &. j. HeXamer, or Philadelphia,
founder and organizer ana moving spirit
OF the German-American National AL
lance. which has branches in every State
Of the Union. and has a membership Of
almost 100000 voters. was the guest OF
honor at "kommers' given by the
United German Societies of this city AT
Saengerbund Hall last night.
The large auditorium Of the bIad, which
was handsomely decorated with the Stars
and Stripes intertwined with the Black,
White. and Red OF the Fatherla8d, and
oak leaves bearing shields and the coat
ofarms Of German cities and American
States, was crowded with members Of
the Alliance. ADVOCATES OF German thought
and education, and friends OF personal
liberty.
An Interesting Programme.
The programme consisted Of music. sing
ing. speecnmalIing, and feasting, and ev-
cry one OF these numbers was a grand
success, from start 70 finish. Thrilling
speeches, recounting the deeds OF herOism
of the old German settlers. pioneers. sol
diers, and business men who helped TO
make this country the world power IL IS.
were cheered and applauded until the
rafters shook. Although the "kommers"
was given TO the founder of the alliance
personally, In acknowledgement Of the
successful work he accomplished in con-
neetiOn with the organization and the
work 70 the alliance, the questions OF
personal liberty and prohibition assumed
predOminance. and we're handled with
vigor on one side and caustic censure and
criticism on the other.
Kurt VoelclSner, president OF the United
German Societies OF the District. acted as
tOastmaster, and commanded the ''lSom-
mers'' exercises as they are carried out
at universities IN Germany, and consist
mainly on giving commands as when TO
rise and drink and how much. DIT. Voelck-
ner. after stating the purpose Of the ''kom-
mers' extended a hearty welcome TO those
present and introduced the guest OF the
evening. DR.. Hexamer.
Replying 10 the hearty willkommen or
the audience. DR.. Hexamer said. after
relating the history OF German endeavOrs
and results in America, that the German
citizen Of this country had not yet at
tained 20 that degree Of universal regard
and esteem TO which he is duly entitled.
The German Is Predominant.
There Is not a field OF work or en-
deavor in the United States in which the
German is not predominant" he said.
THE German is a plain man. an unosten-
tatious citizen. He works day after day.
He is a model husband and good father.
and pays his taxes. and is always the
first to offer his services to his country
when needed. He Is a much better law
yer than the small fry lawyer and poll
tician who subscrbes to all sorts of isms.
and does everything in order 10 get his
name into public print.
Speaking Of personal liberty and the
question Of prohibition. DR.. Hexamer said
was the duty OF the Germans In this
country 10 establish individual liberty:
that this country had arrived at a time
as important as the time Of the War OF
the Revolution. that the people must
fight for their liberty, or else surrender it
TO hypocritical preacher and a petticoat
government
Referring TO the prohibition agitators.
DR.. Hexamer said: What does this Lum-
pengesindeF want? They cannot earn an
honest living. and they have engaged n
this campaign. not because they intend
TO establish temperance, but because they
want 10 be the political bosses Of the
country. They draw their funds from
men who would make slaves OF the citi-
zens and would govern everything and
everybody for their own personal interests
and gain. II prohibition saved people
from ruin I would be the first one to en-
roll my name under the prohibition ban
ner. But we know that wherever there
is prohibition. more than twice as many
the jails are filed with more criminals
than in States where there IS a license
law. Destroy the legalized saloon and you
create 'speakeasies,' blind tigers and
worse resorts"
Representative Julius Kahn, Of Cali
fornia, said that in movements Of this
nature the pendulum will swing back
again: that the people will realize the
folly and foolishness OF prohibition. and
also its grave dangers.
HIS Voice and Vote.
You will never accomplish anything in
the line OF circumscribing personal liberty
by attempting force SO long as I have
a voice and a vote they will always be
heard and cast against the circumscrip.
tion Of Individual liberty"
Representative Bartholdt, Of Missouri
honorary speaker of the Columbia Turn
verein, said that the German Of to-day
should not rely on the glory Of his fore
fathers in this country; that he should
also contribute his share in perpetuating
the good name and fame Of the German
1T is time for US to rely on our own
people, said the speaker, instead Of
placing our confidence and trust in others
not OF our way Of thinking, not OF our
blood and nationality"
Touching upon the German heroes In
the revolutionary struggle. Mr. Bartholdt
said he had succeeded in getting a bill
through both houses of Congress to erect
monument in Lafayette square in honor
OF Baron Steuben. the driilmaster Of
Washingtons army. But this is not all
1 intend to do. It Is my idea that the
name OF Lafayette square should be
changed TO Independence square, and
that statue OF Washington should oc-
cupy the center. with that OF LAFAYETTE
Rochambeau. Pulaski, and Steuben at the
four corners
Among others who spoke were: Repre-
sentative Kuestermann, of Wisconsin, p