Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-06-10

clam, Lnen ask eucn questions or make
such suggestionsl In the first place,
we are not going to lose this war, but
II we did 1t would go i'll with the Ger
man laborer, because he would be
taxed much heavier than he is now to
pay for the war indemnity; and, Sec
undly, our jealous enemies would
place such restrictions on our trade
that it would be impossible for US to
compete"
I asked Sassenbach point blank,
why, in that case, his party had been
opposing the increase Of ornaments.
His answer was typical. I'VE all real
ize now" he said ,F"that we. were mis-
taken. The workingmen do not as yet
rule the world-this war is proving
that. We still stand in friendly rela-
tionship to the workingmen of Great
Britain and France. Only few days
ago received a communication from
Mr.. -, and we frequently hear from
the French headquarters. All the
same, what would have become of us
If we had not had Qur army, If we
had not been prepared as we are?"
thought that in such case Ger
many would perhaps have shown a
different and more conciliatory atti-
tude towards various proposals made
by other countries, and consequently
that the war might have been avoid
ed. But he would have none of It.
mo, no." he emphatically denied.
"Germany's spirit was conciliatory to
the end. Read the last telegram our
kaiser sent to the czar. We were
forced to fight. England has been
wanting to get at US for a long time.
If Russia had not been sure Of France
and England, do you think she could
have found one idiot in st. Petersburg
who would have started this war with
us?
Russia knew our strength and her
own as well. No; this war has been
willful attack on a peace-loving, in.
| dustrious nation. | know the spirit
| and feelings Of my men. am one OF
| them, and that is why we have risen
to man, and we will stand together,
| low by high and high by low, and see
/
this through"
Sassenbach was, not so many years
ago, humble workingman, while to-
day he occupies very responsive po-
sition. He speaks French and English
which he has taught himself fluent
| ly, and, as Professor Francke and the
mayor of Berlin told me, he enjoys the
confidence of many important men;
though they be of entirely opposite pc.
| litical faith, So, when a man of his
! type feels and speaks in that manner,
prompted, am sure, by deep-rooted.
honest convictions, you may imagine
how strong the feelings must be
among the lesser elements.
Foreigners Closely Watched.
There is no doubt many neutrals in
Germany have become almost hypno
tized by the effect produced by the
] elaborate efficiency Of the German
system. Even foreign consuls have
I caught the infection. This, for exam
Pile, Is what certain consul-general
said to me:
Germany cannot be destroyed, be
cause 1t is the most perfectly man
aged country In the world.
Early in my peregrination my IN
vestigation of German conditions was
bringing results quite different from
those ! expected. Every foreigner
has to go through certain period o.
probation, and till he has passed thai
he lives under cloud of suspicion
The valet of your floor knows, O
course, every scrap Of paper, book
map, note, you have in your posses
sion. So do the various secret agents
detectives, or whatever they may b
called, who rummage through you
luggage and open your letters, boil
; coming and going.
Police sergeants who want to Sin
spect your passports" are always yer,
early birds. Their visits are unan
nounced and unexpected, and il yol
: have the careless habit of sleeping
with your door unlocked (and have nj
dog you may see them something
suddenly at the foot end Of your bed
when you wake up. I am speaking
from personal experience.
"They catch many that way" tn
manager of the hotel told me, when
. complained about this almost noctul
= nal visit, as unwelcome as it was ur
expected.