Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-10-09
Object of Day Explained.

object of German day in the follow
ing manner:
German day is celebrated by
nearly all German societies I'm the
United States in commemoration OF
the landing of the first Germans on
American soil in Pennsylvania, oc-
tober s, 1888. From this small be-
ginning German immigration has
grown to immense proportions, so
that yearly hundreds of thousands
seek homes in the United States
from the overcrowded cities and
hamlets of the old fatherland. To
the addition of this sturdy race to
our Puritan stock may be attributed
the great progress in literature. art.
music and perfection in handicraft
while the American sees his
chief glory in the acquisition OF mon
ey and It consequent power, the Ger
man takes pride in doing his work
with infinite pains. to have II per-
feet and always studying in advance
the prevailing demands for improve
ments for the betterment and added
comfort of his fellowman. leaving
the boarding of riches as second
consideration. The very first Bible
printed in America came from the
press of Pretorious and his few fol-
lowers in Pennsylvania, and most OF
the great publishing houses in
America are conducted by Germans
or their descendants.
Owe Much 20 Germans.
What we owe to the Germans in
art and music would All many vol
umes. From the plain house painter
TO the greatest artists OF the day,
they all owe their artistic tendencies
TO the German blood. In music,
with the exception OF the hand-organ
and steam plano. the Germans seem
to have monopoly in this country.
probably because II takes such end
less work and pains to become a
good musician and the remuneru-
tion is so small. II one doubts their
Unborn talent let him come up to
Arion hall tomorrow night and hear
the chorus singing of four of our
best Oregon artists. The Germans
are a convlyial race. who frown up
on drunkenness and excesses, yet
like their glass of beer, which they
have been used 90 for generations
back. They prefer this mild bever-
age 10 stronger drinks and keep
healthy and happy. while other ma
tiOnalities undermine their constitu-
ton by strong drinks and become an
impediment rather than a help to
good citizenship In this country. A
German is not a hypocrite. therefore
he leaves the fanatical prohibition
states 20 settle where he can be free
and law-abiding, and yet have his /
glass OF beer Is IL any wonder that !
German farmers immigrate by tens
OF thousands to Canada II in some
states in the Union II is made a crime
TO indulge IN a glass OF beer, or a
social gathering or ball game on
Sunday? Even IN our fair state such /
prosecutions have taken place. going
as far as shooting a man in his own
home because he was celebrating his
own wife's birthday with too much
hilarity.
"As rule, Germans are religious.
but refrain from forcing their yiows
on others. and their religion Is not
of the kind 10 make Sunday a day
OF misery for themselves and their
feilowmen, but a day OF devotion
and recreation. The majority are
hard-working mechanics who have
only Sunday for unbendmg from.
their labors. That Germans are
law-abiding and good citizens can be
readily seen by the low per cent of
criminals or petty offenders on the
dockets Of the courts with German
names. The German vote, therefore.
scattered and unOrganized. has be-
come a powerful factor TO be reck-
oned with. AT the convention OF the
German-American Alliance. held in I
last Saturday. il was
found that over 100000 German .
American votes were represented .
by delegates from all over the
Union
Oregon Has $1,000 Germans.
Our state was represented by John
The state Of Oregon has
AZ present population OF about
$4,000 Germans, OF which $1,000
are in Portland. About 1000 voters
are organlzed In the % 0rngnl. %