TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-12-11
What / Saw In Germany.
By Dr. George kasmyih, ofths World
peaee Foundation, Boston, V. ). A.

N"MN HAH#AAHa ASIA
eustomed 10 HE new atmosphere
Passing u from Under The EnElnh
Censorship | drew q deep breath OF
free air ii Holland, which receives
news from al sources, and then
plunged into the partial vacuum 81
German Censorship. The German
Customs officials al Goch asked me
politely Il / had any English news
papers ia my possession thought
this rather strange az the time, but
aserihed il % Pnissianism - general
until on my return 10 free liberty
loving England was searched az
Folkestone. aud al my copies OF the
German newspapers the German
White Paper md other official doc
uments were eonhseated. The estab-
iishment OF pfussianism in England
which the war has caused should
make Il easier for the two countries
TO understand each other after the
war az least
From the accounts Of Germany
which / had read in the English
papers / expected to lind everything
IN confusion, the whole economic
labor 81 the country broken up, a
h%alf-staryed population on the verge
oil revolution, the railway service
suspended, cholera rampant IN Ber-
lin, and various other interesting
manifestations Of German demon
alisation.
But / could discover none Of
these things; In outward appearance,
at least, the Germany Of the end Of
August was the same Germany that
] had seen at the end OF July, or at
ans time during the past three
years; d slightly smaller proportion
OF soldiers visible IN the streets, per-
haps. and a slightly larger proper
ton of women and children. The
streets were a little quieter and
even a little more immaculate than
usual. a tense air of solemnity and
resigned sorrow had taken the place
OF the usual expressions OF cheer
fulness and happiness on THE faces
Of the people but otherwise lie was
going on much as usual. Instead OF
suspended railway service, | trav-
elled in the greatest luxury and
comfort on one Of the Or express
trains which are running daily
between Cologne and Berlin as
between the ether important cities.
Instead Of unemployment, | found
4 temporary scarcity Of labor, so
thar ona and boys had 10 be
employed temporarily as ticket col
lectors In the Underground and con-
ductors in the street ears. Instead Of
scarcity OF food, ! found the whole
available population, women, boy
scouts. and old mem engaged in
bringing in one Of the largest crops
IN the recent agricultural history Of
the country. Instead of the cholera
and disease raging everywhere, i
found the most perfect sanitary ar
engagements and the highest medical
ability everywhere in the service of
the public and the State, and a
smaller proportion of disease than
for many years past. Instead OF re-
yolution. / found an absolutely
united people, resolved 70 stand to-
gether until the last against the
whole world full OF enemies, who, as
the Germans believe, arc resolved
10 crush the German people and
cipilisation into the ground and 10
dismemler the German Empire. In
stead of hunger and bread riots, /
found that the wonderful social or
ganisation OF the country had been
still further perfected through the
cooperation Of the Government
with the Social Democrats and TIC
women's organisations, SO that not a
single man., woman, or schild of the
whole 5,000,O0 was suffering from
hunger. The school children were
being provided with nourishing food,
and 5000 people. largely refugees
from East Prussia, were Icing Sup
Piled with nutritious meals al a
penny each, or free OF charge If they
we're without means. The families Of
soldiers at the front were being
paid promptly and the prices Of food
we're normal. During my three years
Of study in Germany L had never
been able to find any slumss | had
never seen a beggar or a drunken
man. and the wonderful social or
ganisafion which had produced this
condition has been extended and
perfected to meet the crisis. The
war means a long step toward So
cialism, of course, Tor the rich must
voluntarily or ingoluntarily supply
the needs of the poor. From what
| saw in Germany, however ! would
Judge that the war will produce less
actual suffering in the form OF
hunger and poverty than in any Of
the other countries engaged.
No moratorium has been declared
in Germany the banks have not
been closed for a single day, and
people were redepositing in the saw
ing banks the money which they had
withdrawn in the first days OF panic.
Some persoas were even paying their
taxes Tor 1915 and 1916 in advance,
in order to help the Government and
get the benefit Of the 4 per cent.
discount which was offered. The ex-
tent 10 which the surface indications
correspond or fail to correspond
with the economic realities is very
difficult TO Judge. When / asked
business men in Germany about the
underlying conditions they shook
their heads and looked thoughtful,
lust as business men do in England.
With the exception OF the armament
industries, it is certain that in Ger-
many, as in all the other countries
concerned. nobody is going to reap
49,. .~nnrr,tn rat-, f~rx. 49, -