The Washington times., 1914-08-12
WAR NEWS
UNFAIR TO GERMANS
Mass Meeting Swept Off Its
Feet by Singing of 'Die
Wacht am Rhein."

Five hundred German-Americans
packed Arion hall last night in a meet
ing Of protest against the manner in
the European war These citizens of
German descent made an anti-British
demonstration. and many Of those pres
ent contributed to the Kaiser's war
fund.
The meeting was crammed with ex-
cltement and protests, and while many
were struggling to keep their enthu-
siasm within parliamentary restrictions,
the meeting was carried eff Its feet
when some one began singing die
Wacht am RheIn."
When the parliamentary situation was
Strengthened out, a resolution was
passed asking for impartial treatment
fro mthe American press. This resolu-
"Bt II resolved. That we. as American
citizens, appeal that the American press
present, its information in an unbiased
and impartial manner, and that the edi-
toriaIs, as far as possible, be without
prejudice or hatred toward any class OF
American cieizens, for this. though an
English-speaking country. Is not an
English nation, and IL is but falr, m
these trying times that the American
spirit Of fair play shall be exercised TO
further good feeling among American
citizens Of every extraction and creed.
It is signed by the United German So
cieties of Washington. which called the
meeting.
Bartholdt Is Speaker.
CONGRESSMAN Bartholdt Of Missouri
was one of the principal speakers. He
blamed England for the war and made
- tr NJ
Just treatment which Germany Is re-
ceiving at the hands Of American news
papers"
All OF the speakers defended the
Kaiser's course In the European Crisis
The meeting was one OF the most en-
thusuastic ever seen in Washington.
Fiery speeches were cheered and ap-
plauded, while many were unable to ex-
press the depth Of their feelings. Par
liamentary procedure was tangled when
scores of men tried 20 get the floor at
the same time to denounce biased and
colored' war stories, and many times
the chairman was at a loss, and bad
difficulty in bringing order.
Martin Wiegand, well-Enown Wash
ington business man, presided. He
opened the meeting with a speech that
brought a tremendous wave CT enthusi-
asm and applause. He was frequently
halted, particularly when he made men
ton of this country's neutrality and of
President Wilson's peace efforts
Blood Is thicker than water" ne
shouted, in opening his speech. I'VE
want the world TO know our sympathy
is with the fatherland. and that II docs
not conflict with the neutrality the
United States is maintaining"
DR.. Ernest Bruken of the Congression-
al Library, referred to the 'hasty and
dishonest paragraphs which he said
We're printed on this side Of the Atlantic
to assist Great Britain in the war. For
q time he held his audience almost tpeIl-
bound For fifteen years, ne said, Or, at
Br:taiE has made a systematic at.Gck
by tnruendo in apparently innocent Gis-
patches, Just to exasperate the Ameri-
con people against Germany.
Charges Slurs On Kaiser.
Everything affecting the Fatherland
has been misrepresented." and the En-
perors every motive has been impusned
the man who now stands against TWO
worlds II necessary to preserve the
honor and integrity ct the Fa.ae land!
Fer fifteen years the Kaiser has no.
beao mentioned in English dispa. shes or
in tie American press without c. sIur-
without being called the War Lord in
sinuating that he was hunting for
somebody to fight with. 1t is not very
likely that Germany was itching for
this war. as has been stated In Ameri-
can press SO many times.
Think how she is surrounded on three
sides by giant enemies. and then ask
ourselves how she could ever have in
yited this fight"
Congressman Bartholdt was the next
speaker. 'Uppermost in our hearts
and minds" he said, is the unfair and