Evening star., 1915-05-18
.TEUT0N|C ISSUE IS
ACUTE IN CHICAGO
German-Born and Native
Americans GraveIy Concerned
Over Lusitania Affair.
FORMER SUPPORT POLICY
OF SUBMARINE WARFARE
All Are Anxiously Awaiting Ger.
many's Reply to President
Wilson's Note.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO. May 1s.-while waiting
for the German reply to President
Wilson's note. the thoughtful and sub
stantial people OF this city fnd them
selves confronted with a very serious
problem of immediate nature at their
own doors. and that is to preserve
harmonious relationships between the
native and the German-born popula-
tion.
In this city, with more Germans than
there are In Hamburg and one-third as
many Germans as there are in Berlin
that is to say. people of German de-
scent and sympathy. 1t is a very grave
problem because of the intensity OF
feeling. ........
All of the prominent German -Ameri-
cans reassure the public that the Ger
man Americans will support the flag of
their adopted country in case of war.
But these leaders Of their German
kinsmen realize that at this moment
there is a strong sentiment of resent
ment against the government OF the
United States as represented by the
administration.
Awaiting German Reply.
While outward calm has settled over
the population pending the receipt Of
the German answer, the feeling is tense
and men are looking ahead with ap-
prehension to what may happen within
the week.
Despite reassuring news from WASH
fngton to the effect that a conciliatory
and even favorable answer is expected,
the contrary opinion is deepseated here
1t is based upon the sympathy of the
Germans with the viewpoint of the
German government that submarine
warfare Is necessary and justiflabl in
the circumstances.
Cable dispatches direct from Berlin
to a Chicago evening newspaper indi-
cate that to be the position of the Ger
man government. The German sympa.
thizers in this region will support that
view. For the moment 1t is to them a
controversial question between the
President and the kaiser. and they will
nod their heads in assent to the kafser's
contentious. whatever they may be. and,
as 1 said, opinion for the present is al
most unanimous that they will be ad-
verse to those of this government
Future Relations Affected.
Now, then, supposing that polite
but firm refusal to meet the demands
of the United States comes along, peo-
pie are asking, what will be the next
move of the United States? Their con-
cern in that question rests in the fact
that it will have immediate bearing
upon their business. social and neigh
borly relations with numerous ele-
ment of the population of the region.
The people Of American descent are
absolutely set and determined in their
attitude in support of the President.
They indorse what he has done, and
they are ready to go to any limit to
back him up. Inquiries that / have
made lead to the conclusion that the
Hollander and South Eu-
ropean peoples of this section also will
stand by Uncle Sam.
But. in case of an acute issue arising,
will not that make a serious situation
right here in our own country? is the
question which is disturbing every one
1ut here.
There is kind of fatalistic belief
that this issue Is coming and men are
setting their jaws and squaring their
shoulders to meet it. You are breath
ing the rarefled air of the District of
Columbia and are feeling its conser-
vative influences. but 1 am writing to
you from the throbbing heart of the
virile middle west, where men are i'm
passioned, thinking radically and act
Ing vigorously.