Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-08
AMERICA FIRST" SAY
GERMAN-AMERICANS
OF WILSON'S ATTACK
Two Philadelphians Object to
Use of "Hyphenated" and
Assert They Stand by
United States
READY WHEN CALL COMES

The Gcrman-Americans on whom the
alias Of hyrhenated" has been bestowed
BY many have taken a stand on the de-
fensivc.
Captain Louis H. schmitt, representa-
tive naturalized American of German ex-
traction. captain commissary Of the
Sd Regiment OF the National Guard
| OF Pennsylvania spoke today Of the
| reaction of the "hyphenated" toward the
common attitude as typifed in the
! presidential message He contended that
the history of the Germans in America
proves their loyalty to the United states
and that love for the mother country does
not prevent even more affection for the
adopted country. Every neutral has
definite opinion on the Justice OF the war.
and tha' is all Of which the German
American can be accused. he asserted.
We've almost given UP hope of get
ting the rest Of the Americans to under
stand" said Mr.. Schntt at a table In
Osierdurff's Cafe, Of which he Is general
manager. Look at our past In this
country. We were here in the time of
the Rebellion and we gave you General
Won Steuhen. We didn't fail you then.
In the Civil War 5000 Germans were
enlisted. We we're right at hand when
the call came. Allentown and Phila-
delpha. the largest German settlements,
had their full quota in the First De-
tenders,
IN GsH-AMERTCAN WAR.
"And In the spanishAmerican War
gave tip q good Job as manager of Booth
by's to 60 TO war at SIC n month
''You sne, we give ourselves when the
cali comes.
perhaps we GermanAmericans are
sensitive have read the Presidents
book on the Tcutons and now read hts
proclamation. You know in his book he
has only praise for the German race so
perhaps we are unduly sensitive and have
unjustly taken unto ourselves the OPP
probrium in his MESSAGE. His book and
that paragraph don't harmonize. But I
think he understands, We have no fault
to find with him.
Neutrality" said Captain Schmitt. "s
defined differently by every person. In
our hears we feel for Germany: you
would mo- think more of us II We killed
the love for the Fstherland. Carl Schurz
said, You must not ask me to condemn
my mother because l have chosen
bride"
1--WE also think that Germany is in the
right, but does not everybody have an
opinion on the war? Is not every Aneri-
can feeling and thinking about the war?
Why question our loyalty and allegiance
because our hearts and minds lead us to
think Germany is in the right"
EVIDENCE OF NEUTRALITY.
Herr Schmitt waved his hand toward
the walters in the cafe. There is evil
dence of my neutr' lity. We are cosmo-
politan here. NV walters are German.
the eight men behind the oyster bar are
Scotch Irish and English. The night
watchman is Serbian; the two bootblacks
are Italians. The first and second chefs
are Austrians and Wassily in the kitchen
is a Russian. Could any man be more
neutral?'
Politics? No, we have never entered
nolltics as n body. We did not elect Ru-
dolph Bankenburg Mayor of Philadel-
phia; the anti-Fare forces put him there
We have never tried to swing an election.
Your interests have been our interests
YOUR country our country.
But 1t hurts We have brought you
the best that Is in us. The discipline
that is truly German and the thrift that
Is part of us are assets. Have you ever
seen German beggar? And we give
of our best and our loyalty, but our love
for our mother country no one can take
away"
AMERICA FIRST"
Pastor George Won Bosse, 26 years in
America. lives in the centre of the Ger
man colony in Philadelphia. $40 North
5th street.
America Is always first to us, but can
not you understand what love is? My
children are Americans. born here, but
.aF nd In ha Of