Evening journal., 1915-08-25
FIGHT This COUNTRY
RATHER Than kaiser
President of New York Ger
man-American Alliance
Gives Views on Crisis
SEES NO CAUSE FOR
WAR OVER STEAMSHIP


American, president of the German
American Society of New York City !
and honorary president of the Ger
man American Alliance of New York !
State, representing in his official capa- |
cities upward of 10000 residents Of the
State, calmly and dispassionately
avows that he would not volunteer for
service in war between Germany and
the United States. His age would
probably save him the embarrassment
of conscription, but that is aside from
an interview with a reporter for The
Sun yesterday afternoon on his return
from a visit to Germany.
II might be enlightening to state
that Mr.. Koelble went 10 Germany on
the same voyage of the Norwegian
steamship tlat carried home Dr. Bern
hard Dernburg, the Kaisers former
representative in America. Also MT
Koelble was the bearer on that voy
age of an album of clippings of news
paper comment on the German
American Alliances charity bezaar to
raise funds for the widows and or
phans Of German and Austrian sol
diers The bazaar raised S350,000.
The album a decorative masterpiece
OF publishing, was destined for Ger
man Government library. Mr.. Koelble
said he did not present 1t to the Ger
man Government; did not talk with
anv German oficials--his visit was on
legal business.
Mr.. K0elbles Position.
Succinctlv Mr.. Koelble's position and
he intimates-that of his German
American society members is tnis Ger
man.Americans will not support a war
against the Fatherland in an unjust
cause. They reserve to their own CON
science the right to decide individually
whether any war against Germany
would be Just or unjust with enthu-
siasm" was the mitigating reservation
Mr.. Koelble made at first. but pinned
down to an unconditional statement he
left out even that. Hear him thus:
LET the President take a ballot on
the question of war with Germany II
he is so anxious TO do the right thing
and ease his conscience Let every
body vote from the President and
Cabinet officers right down the line,
but let it be clearly stated on the
ballots that from the President down
those who vote for war will have to
20 to the front first And when they
are killed o. eturn manned to the
country's widows and orphans then
the others who didn't vote for war
will come to the nations rescue.
That's democracy. isn't it? Well, let
him follow II out He doesn't want
to involve the country in war unless
the people want IT, Let him waive
the constitutional right of Congress
to declare war and take a vote on It.
DO you think that is good Ameri-
can citizenship"
"Sure it is. Why not"
Would you personally volunteer
for a war with Germany"
mo. Not unless Germany was the
aggressor. If Germany attacked US
then all the German Americans would
be the first to fight. If German sub
marine attacked the Arabic without
warning that was a deliberate chal-
lenge to this country after the Jusi-
tania note, but we should not 60 TO
war. Let this country sever diploma
tic relations with Germany IL il wants
to, but then let President Wilson in
sist Just as firmly upon the recogni-
tion of our rights by England as he
had insisted upon our rights from
Germany.
Would Have Each Decide.
Il think each man ought TO decide
according to his own conscience
whether a war is just OF not Other
wise he may fight, but he won't fight
with enthusiasm, and it is the en-
thusiasm Of a people for war that the
President must count upon. put
my conscience first.
Il think Germany's submarine
policy is absolutely justified. If Ger
many had begun attacking merchant
ships at the start it would not have
been justified, but look what the Eng
lish did--used the Danish flag TO
trap Won Weddingen. II would have
been all right if England hadn't be-
gun arming trawlers and rammine
submarines and trying to starve Co.
100000 people Surely Americans
have a technical right to travel on
English merchant ships, but why moi
yield that right; why not use discre.
ton? Why didn't Wilson act wher
Americans were killed in Mexico?"
Perhaps the President thought he
was dealing with people Of higher cul
ture in the Germans and expected tC
meet reason" the reporter suggested
well, it's a question of rights
isn't it?
Il think Germany has a right tc
sink every vessel, neutral or other
wise, which carries ammunition TO the
Allies. If the vessel carries neutra
on-combatants-not without warn
ing, of course, but after the warnins
blow them to hell, every damn one
OF them International law? Bosh
Who gives rap about internationa
law? Germany doesn't Why. Ger
many is making international law. In
ternational law is not up to date. 1
will be, though. It's the country witt
tho punch that makes internationa
law, and Germany has the punch II
her submarines.
do you know what my theory o
the whole thing would be If l wer'
Germany? I'd sink every damned am
munition ship whether she carrieI
neutrals or not and then pay $3.50
each for the American lives lost
That's the agreed value of an Ameri
can when he's shot by Canadians
isn't it? The Government decided
that. There you are"
"But." the reporter ventured, Sup
pose, Mr.. Koelble, your wife o
daughter had been lost in the Lusi
tania or Arabic sinking. Would Vol
accept $500 in reparation?"
Certainly l would. I'd do il to ge
even with the Government (Americal
Government) for making such a pric
-.