New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-05
German and AustrO-Hun-
parian Americans Prove
Devotion to u. 5.
ONLY BUTTONS SHOW
TEUTON SPIRIT
Old Blue Law Dug Up Again to
Prevent Racing Features of
Speedway Programme.

Long columns Of girls in red. white
and blue marched across the grass
covered oval within the Sheepshead Bay
Speedway yesterday afternoon. Slowly
they converged until living Stars and
Stripes waved in the sunlight, with the
rhythmic bending Of 900 grlish bodies.
And as the strains Of "The Star
Spangled Banner" sung by this living
flag, died away a roar Of applause
swept through the crowded seats of the
immense grandstand.
II was the climax Of demonstration
arranged to show the devotion to Amer
lea Of the German-American and
Austro. Hungarian-Amer Of New
York and New Jersey. American Lib
erty Day" the official programme called
il, and barred the hyphen by the state
mcnt that the proceeds were for the
benefit of German American and
Austro- Hungarian American charities
Of New York City and the Irish Relief
Fund" Not a foreign flag was for SALE
nor, with one exception, was one to be
seen within the gates Of the Speedway.
The only visible evidence OF unquah-
fed Germanisfn were buttons, portray
ing Field Marshal Won Hindenburg.
The majesty Of the law invaded the
Speedway, as il had two weeks before,
and prevented the performance Of the
whole programme, but nevertheless
more than 100000 persons journey to
the Bay 10 take part in and watch the
monster demonstration.
Features Eliminated.
Out Of Difference to a law Of 1913,
the committee in charge decided to
eliminate certain features which
might have been noisy enough TO be
heard outside the speedway. This step
was taken after a conference between
Sheriff Edward Riegelmann Of Kings
County. Police Inspector Murphy and
Alphonse G.. Koelble, a president of
the American Liberty Day Association,
Yesterday morning. These included
automobile and motorcycle races and
an exhibition by flying aerOplanes.
The green. white and yellow flag Of
the short-lived Irish Republic was one
foreign flag 10 be seen. As the colors
Of the Irish Volunteers of America, II
waved at the head Of two companies
Of that organization, which marched in
a parade Of floats. Some of these
we're symbolic Of America; others por-
trayed incidents in American history
and in the lives Of Germans who
fought TO create this country and to
save IL
Loudly applsuded among the floats
were those showing Peter Mullen
berg, "the fighting preacher of the
- nd Mollv pftrbar uha
with great difficulty balanced herself
on the battlefield. moving along on
four wheels. and rammed home the
powder charge for venerable can
ron. Washington was presented at
Valley Forge, and the crowd watched
General Won Steuben drilling an awk-
ward squad of the Continental army
British redcoats appeared IN the tab
leaus entitled Evacuation Day" and
"The Death Of General Herkimer"
Peace Float Applauded.
One float was in honor of the 10000
Germans who fought for the Union in
the Civil War. Another showed Cen
eral Franz Sigel riding on his horse.
Most loudly cheered of all was that
called peace" Twenty-Five girls
danced in front of il and 200 young
women carrying lilies and horns of
plenty mdrcned as an escort.
The close of the programme, which
had included athletic events, drills by
the Turner's and concerts by German
singing societies, was marked by a
declaration of the principles of the
American Liberty Day Association, Of
fered and read by Henry Weismann,
one Of its presidents.
ave, the citizens Of German and
Austro- Hungarian stock" he said. take
this occasion TO reafirm our faith and
hope in America and its free institu-
tons as the abiding guarantee of the
protection and advancement of the I'M
dying cause of human brotherhood the
world over.
I'VE declare with every emphasis
our stanch adherence to America, our
loyalty 10 the flag and TO system of
government sanctihed by glorious
past and the certainty of still more
promising future.
"Our devotion is the deeper because
Of our consciousness that America is
the only country destined to solve the
problems of world peace and of Civ
ing TO man a steadily growing measure
of liberty and the equal opportunities
possible only where popular rights
defy the pretensions Of class, caste or
hereditary privilege.
Sheriff's Deputies on Hand.
ave therefore view with concern the
attempt to question our loyalty be
cause Of natural sympathy with the
land Of our forefathers in struggle
for existence, and TO arouse among our
brethren and sisters Of nOn-Germsn
stock a feeling Of mistrust, If not
hatred, against citizens of German
stock or descent
Eve hope for an early peace, and
that our beloved country may be the
medium Of its restoration. We shall
support such men. candidates and par
ties as will stand for these principles -
for America first, last and all the
time"
There were many Sherif's deputies
within the speedway, ready 10 interfere
IL the Sunday observance law was vio-
lated. but there were no uniformed po-
licemen. Fourteen cases Of heat pros
tration we're treated at the emergency