The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-17

I which. according to reports, would pc AT
! its ropes end but for the contraband
| il receives from the United states.
| He proclaimed his loyalty. declaring
| that he was for America against Eng
land. for America against Germany for
America against the world" adding if
the Star Spsnsled Banner is not my
nag then have no flag" Mr.. Bartholdt
denied that he ever had committed
an unneutral act, or uttered an I'M
neutral word. He explained that he
introduced the bill that provoked MT.
Leon to criticism as a means of effect
ing peace, arguing that II the bel
liEerents were denied the opportunity to
get supplies In this country the war
would soon come TO an end He said
he had met the German ambassador
only once in the past year. and that
was a chance meeting.
Accusation An Insult.
There IL more serious side In
this matter. graver accusation. in
volving an insult, not only to the mill
lions OF Germans who have acquired
citizenship in this country. but also
to the German government" said Mr.
Bartholdt. Il refer to the assertion
j that there is a law on the statute
books of Germany which makes 1t pos
sible for man to become naturaiized
here and yet retain his German citizen
ship, an assertion coupled with the In
situation. almost incredible In its men
dacity. that the Germans are taking
advantage of this situation, and when
taking the oath Of allegiance do not
do II in good faith. The facts are
simply these: Germany. like every
other country, has law which makes
ii possible for those who are away
from the Fatherland to retain their
citizenship by reporting within ten
years to a German consul, but when so
reporting they must make oath that
they have not acquired or taken steps
to acquire citizenship In any other
country.
Touching on the merits of his resolu-
ton. Mr.. Bartholdt said:
ut is my deliberate judgment that
the United States now has the power
to stop the war by Withholding from
the heIligerent nations the sinews of
war"
VIII He q "Hereafter."
Mr.. Bartholdt said there would be a
hereafter" IL the United States per-
sisted In selling goods TO the warning
nations Of Europe. He said there would
come time when the Anglo Japanese
alliance" would be ready for business"
and he suggested that then, maybe.
the friendship Of Germany will come
in handy"
Mr.. Lobeck repudiated the suggestion
that in offering his bill he was in
fuenced by considerations of friend
ship Of Germany, OF enmity toward the
allies. He said ne offered the bill
as peace measure, and insisted that
stoppase in the shipment Of contra
band would effect the end. 1T Is more
than probable" said Mr.. T4obeck. that
the man who ascribes to me the con-
dition of being a traitor TO this coun-
try 10 not himself an American citizen.
I The chances are that if Uncle Sam
called us to follow the flag he would
be the first to duck out into the At
| iautic Ocean to get away.
Vollmer Gets He'd Hot
Mr.. Tollmer was more personal He
said he arose ito throw back into the
teeth of the scoundrel who concocted
this miserable falsehood aimed at my
two distinguished colleagues and my
self in particular. and the American
citizens of German birth or descent In
general. I deem 1t my duty publicly
to reply TO these infamous charges
which have been given such widespread
notoriety by the newspaper In which
they appeared. I was born in this
country in the good old State Of Iowa.
am not given to boasting about my
American patriotism. but will back
1t against that Of any dirty, purchase
BILE penny a-liner who ever tore to
tatters the reputation of honest men"