The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27
GERMAN AMERICAN
LEAGUES OBJECTS
Federation of Societies Organ
lied to Awaken and Strength
en- Sense of Unity
Thirty Thousand Citizens Are
Associated With State Or
ganization and Branches
BY Carl w. Mueller,
Corresponding Secretary, German-Amer-
icnn League of California

lean League of California
Very often have the officers Oh our
league been asked by our American
friends: What kind of society Is
your league? What do you aim ate
What do you want?
ciety, few words of explanation 1or
the information of the public are GER
tainly in order and undoubtedly OF
general interest.
The German-American league OF
California was founded September "a,
1901, and Is federation or German
societies. lodges and clubs, and mas
now five branch leagues; namely, In
Stockton, Sacramento, San Jose, Los
Angeles and San Diego, and embraces
l55 societies in all parts of the state
with a membership of over 10000 Ger
man-American citizens. Our league is
affiliated with the GermanAmerican
national alliance, with branches In 80
states with over 1000, 900 members.
Our league, according to our consti-
tuition, aims to awaken and strengthen
the sense of unity among American
citizens of German origin with a we"
to promote the useful and healthy de-
velopment of the power inherent In
them as a united body for the mutual
protection of such legitimate desires
and interests not inconsistent with the
common good of the country, and the
rights and duties of good citizens; to
maintain and safeguard the good and
friendly relations existing between
American and the German Countries
Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
PARTY POLITICS BARRED
The league seeks to bring about
full and honest recognition of the
merits of the Germans in our popula-
lation and an acknowledgment of the
public services rendered by them, and
the share they have contributed to the
advancement of the spiritual and eco
nomic development of this country ever
since the landing of the first Germans
under Pastorius in Germantown, Pa,
225 years ago.
The league has no exclusive interests
in view, nor the founding of a state
within a state, but sees in the central
iZation of the inhabitants Of German
origin the shortest road to and the
surest guarantee for. the attainment of
our aims. The league, as such, re-
frains from all interference in party
politics, reserving, however, the right
and duty to defend its principles also
in the political field, in case these
should be attacked or endangered by
political measures. Questions and mat
ters of religion are strictly excluded
The league recommends the introduce
tion of the study of German into the
public schools for the reasons that
along with English, German is a world
language, that wherever the pioneers of
civilization, trade and commerce have
penetrated, we find the people of both
languages represented; that wherever
real knowledge of another language
prevails more generally, there an in
dependent, clear and unprejudiced un-
derstanding is more easily formed and
mutual friendly relations promoted
The league advocates the introduce
tion of systematic and practical gym
nastic instruction in the public schools,
and furthermore declares in favor of
taking the schools out of politics, for
only a system Of education can offer the
from political influence can offer the
people real and satisfactory schools.
DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP
The league makes it the duty of all
Germans to acquire the right of citizen-
ship as soon as they are legally en-
titled to it, to take an active part in
public life, and to exercise their right
at the polls fearlessly and according
to their own judgment. The league
recommends either a liberal and modern
Interpretation or the abolition of laws
that put unnecessary difficulties In the
way of acquiring the right of citizen
ship, and frequently entirely prevent it.
Good character, unblamable, upright
life. obedience to laws should decide and
not the answering or nonanswering of
arbitrarily selected political or histor-
ical questions. which easily. confuse the
applicant. For, as we believe, 1t Is to
the interest of the state to grant full
citizenship to all It's worthy inhabitants
and not to permit large bodies of for
eigners to live within it borders who
never can acquire the right of citizen
ship, thereby creating a distinct and