New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-17
Colonel, Despite Explo-
sions, Truly Pro-Teuton,
Says Prof. Munsterberg.
EITHER HELD WORTHY
OF NEXT PRESIDENCY
Psychologist Praises President
for Stand When Cranks Cried
War with Germany.

Roosevelt as candidates for President
in 1915 and the German-American de-
Gliding the election Is the vision which
Professor Hugo Muensterberg, Of Har-
ward, outlines in this weeks issue OF
The Fatherland"
THE Germsn-Americans will faith
fully think of their oath Of allegiance
and understand that they serve Amer
lea best IL they choose as President
the man who will most surely keep
this land from any racial struggle"
the Cambridge psychologist writes
Their symbol is the hyphen. Any
candidate will be doomed who changes
the hyphen into a dash. The dash 10
sign Of separation, but the hyphen
always unites."
Professor Muensterberg explains
why, in spite Of his alleged vitupers-
lions against the German nation and
its policies, Colonel Roosevelt is not
as cordially disliked as he might be-
Every American knows him." he
declares; some hate him; many love
him, but no one takes him without a
grain Of salt. Il would be simply
absurd 10 measure his words by the
same scale as those Of Root or Taft
or Wilson. But the chief thing Is that
no one would like him other than he
is. German-Americans must serious
ly regret Roosevelt's having gone on
the anti-Gcrman path, but they would
make fools Of themselves II they were
TO protest against the exaggerations
OF his aati-German ordinations. That
is his temperament and his temper,
the most superficial thing in the man.
Colonel Not Psssively Neutral.
According to Professor Muenster-
berg's letter. he has not the slightest
doubt that there could have been no
greater good for Germany, so far as
America is concerned. il Roosevelt had
been President in August, 1914.
His temperament never would have
allowed him TO take the passive stti-
tude Of real neutrality" he declares.
When England cut the German cables
TO America and made this nation do
pendent upon the British censor. in
those decisive weeks when American
public opinion was TO be formed, he
would have been found, not only full
minating words, but means OF ener-
getic action. He probably would have
threatened an embargo on arms II the
means OF communication from both
belligerent sides were not put at the
service of the American nation at once.
"The psychological equation Of his
personality, however, makes him q pro-
German in all that is in him, and only
his temper and perpetual desire to be
with the masses makes him a pro-
Ally"
There will be an inner reorganiza-
tion In the United States after the war,
just as there will be in the conflicting
nations, according TO the writer. In
that reorganization Professor Muens-
terberg is sure America will Undue the
American nation with German ideals.
In the outcome Of the struggle he sees
Germany victorious, England profting
politically, the United States financial
Is, and Germany dalturally, which
means morally
Germsn-Americans a Power.
1.-THE future Of these United States,
therefore, must be put into the hands
OF men whose Utmost minds are tuned
TO this great moral message" says Pro-
lessor Muensterberg. Among the pres
ent day politicians not one is so we'll
prepared as Roosevelt TO hear this new
call and send the message ringing
III rough the nation
"If the German-Americans see the
small things small and the great things
great they will not stumble over ad-
iectives," he adds, showing his per-
sonal leaning toward the Sachem Of
Sycamore Hill as the 1916 Presidential
possibility.
Regarding President Wilson's stand
ing in the German-American eye, Pro-
fessor Muensterbcrg writes:
above all they ought not 10 forget
that war was on the threshold OF the
American land and il was Woodrow
Wilson who thrust IL out He stood for
peace when fanatics cried for war
against Germany. Every German-Amer-
lean ought to be thankful for that and
ought not to be oversensitive when the
President sometimes exaggerates his
complaints with a phraseology which
reminds the ref der Of his martial OPP
ponent
FINALLY, Wilson's preparedness pro-
gramme corresponds surely to the ira
ditional ideas OF the German.Amer
cans about the duties of the individual
10 the state. Wilson and Roosevelt
both are only possibilities for the
German-Americsn voter, and their
words and actions in the next ten
months must decide whom they will
elect.
"The Presidential election Of next
November will be decided by the Ger
nan-Americans, and both sides know
il. The Germsn-Americans will show
strength of which no one had any idea
az he last election. The more the
Decentralization have to suffer the.
more decisive in the next election they
ILL he ~