The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-10
GERMAN-AMER|CANS R|D|CULE AN EDITOR
Amused by Afternoon Paper Assertion That Kaiser Is
 Wholly to Blame
To the Editor of The Age-HeraId:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 We are very much pleased to state that the key to the situation in Europe Is found-unmistakabl found-by an ed- itor of an afternoon paper. Oh, ye gods and little fishes, listen what a brain hero has to say about the triple alliance:''
 If Italy refuses to aid Germany in the present crisis, it's course would be vindi- cated at the bar of public opinion.
 What rare wisdom is buried in yon statement what deep knowledge of law of contracts. and last, but not least, of public opinion. Oh, public opinion, where art thou? Art thou in the inlSwell of a-newspaper editor, or be you to be found in well balanced brains of the masses of the people? We always had an idea, un- derstand, simply an idea, that public opin- ion could, would and will express itself in any public place, gathering, family and society of many degrees. Public opinion will brand an individual as a wrongdoer as quick as it finds out he is a wrong doer, no matter how long the wrongdo- ing has been going on, and the instant the public gets the facts the wrong doer is done for.
 What was or is the contract between Italy and Germany and Austria? Does the public know? Does the editor know? If he does let us have it; if he does not, let him keep the light under the bushei
 Wisdom, hear vel Can wisdom be con fined to brain cells, or does it want to be federated at any cost? Why, just listen to the ripping overflow of editorial wis dom when it points out Great powers apparently anxious for war, allowed triv- ial events to bring about the crisis. And it will not be forgotten that Germany could have brushed aside the war clouds at any moment had the Kaiser been so disposed"
 This. no doubt, is the greatest state ment, ever made. It shows the greatest knowledge of European politics that ever came to the surface of the political wa ters. O ye school children of Europe, hear ye and learn ye. Ye future politi- clans and historians gather these kernels of wisdom for future reference. They are too costly to be lost
 A trivial event started the war? What was the trivial event? A Servian anarchist slaughtered lady and gentleman. The gentleman happened to be the heir to the Austrian throne On account of this Aus tria made an amazing series of demands upon Servia, demands that apparently why apparently? Why not give us the whole number of demands? Oh, these de- mands cannot be found in every editor s office, neither in his brain cells. But that does not make any difference at all; he (the editor) continues Austria insisted upon war, and Germany, which could have ended the whole dispute without one drop of bloodshed, let the thing go on, this in the face of certain knowledge that Russia would not permit Austria to in- wade Servia''
 Hear ye, yet great philosophers, did you see the editors cat come out of the wisdom bag?" What was Russia's busi- ness to try to interfere? Tell us, oh great politician, thou art wise like Solomon. You won't say 1t; that's where the wisdom shows itself again brilliantly.
 It is only the Kaiser and Germany who are responsible for the present war. None of the other powers like Russia, England and France, have formed any triple en. tentes; they never prepared for war for the last 20 years more or less. Why, they are innocent as children, hot at all prepared for war; never thought of it and never should have thought of tiff it had not been for the Kaiser. Is it not great to lick nation with a pen and three or four other nations with an overflow of in- nocense into angel-like positions?
 Come, oh war lord of the pen: let us have some more of your political wis., dom and good judgment of European af- fairs; we admire you and your work; it is great. it is so convincing that even a younger generation could learn from it. Immortality be yours.
 SORVUS E. KOHLENBERG.
 D. J. SEIFERT
 Birmingham, August 9, 1914.