Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-01-09
THE ANSWER BY A TRUE AMER
ICAN TO AN INFAMOUS
gJ1CGNGVTON

An organization Of England's
friends among the millionairs Of New
York, calling Itself the American
Rights Committee" has been flodd
ing the country with letters asking
The people to join the organization
and to sign a petition to the Presi
dent. urging him to severe the diplo-
matte relation of the United States
Government with Germany and
Austria-Hungary. Congressman Jeff
~ McLemore Of Texas who received
one of tho million letters sent out by
the American Rights Committee"
has sent the President of the Com
mitteo, George Haven Putnam, the
following answer
Washington, Dec, 80, 1915.
Hon. George Haven Putnam,
Pres. American Rights Committee,
Is Cedar Street,
New York, n. Y.
Dear Sir-I am in receipt OF your
circular letter Of December IL, 1915.
in which you ask me to sign an ac-
companying petition to the Presi-
dent, urging him to break the diplo-
matte relations that now exist be-
tween the United States and the Ger
man Federation You conclude your
letter by informing me that "quick
action is necessary" and make the
additional request that / become
either a permanent member (of your
Committee) at $500, sustaining
member at $500, or an annual mem
Der at $1.00." In answering your
requests deem it expedient in order
that my position may be clearly un-
derstood, to make a few observa-
tions, which / consider to be both
timely and pertinent:
First-For several years past
Mexico has been in state Of anarchy
and during that time nearly five
hundred Americans, including men,
women and children, have been ruth
lessly murdered by the Mexicans and
in several instances the Americans
We're FIRST mutilated and the women
outraged. These Americans, under
the promise Of protection in their
rights by the Diaz Government, as
were other foreigners, had invested
their all in Mexico. although they
still retained their American citizen
ship and (wherc THERE incomes JUS
tilted it, paid income taxes to the
u. S. Government When they ap-
pealed however, to the United States
/ for protection (Diaz being no longer
in power), they received from Wash
ingtOn the cold response that they
had M business in Mexico and that
the best thing for them to do would
be to abandon their property and
leave the country, or else remain at
their own risk When q delegation
OF prominent American citizens So
~ A t.f, %
generally in Mexico arrived in Wash
ington to lay their grievances before
tho President, tho President refused
to receive them. They did meet
Secretary Bryan however, and they
left under the impression that the
Secretary was decidedly of the opin-
ion that the Americans in Mexico had
been treated as they deserved to be.
Realizing that they could hope for
nothing from the Government at
Washington, many Americans from
interior points in Mexico gathered at
Tanpic0, feeling shat the american
battleships stationed there would
offer at least somo safety and protec-
tion for their lives In this they
we're sadly mistaken. however, for
when q Mexican mob began 10 gather
and with tho shout Death to the
Americans the American feet. act
ing upder haste orders from Wash
ington, moved away from Tampico,
leaving many Americans. men
women md children 20 the mercy Of
the rapidly swelling mob composed
Of all classes Of Mexicans, and whose
only ambition was TO murder Amer
leans and loot the homes and stores
owned and controlled By Americans
How q German Naval Commander
Saved American Lives.
Just about The time the mob had
crvstalli5ed. however, and was ready
for action (havinG been encoura ged
by the withdrawal Of the Amorican
+. "'cshins) the brave commander OF
Alderman cruiser went ashore, sought
out the Mexican commandant and
commanded him under penalty OF
having his city blown of the earth
I 70 dis0erse the moh within fifteen
minutes and to see to it that no
American was harmed. Realizing
that the German commander was in
dead earnest, tho Mexican comman-
dant obeyed his orders implicitly,
while the Americans. under the pro-
lection OF the German cruiser, went
aboard American vessels that were
lying in the harbor, expecting to re-
turn to Tampico within twenty-four
hours, or as soon as conditions be-
came quiet and take care OF their
property which had not been de-
sroycd by the mob. Imagine thcir
surprise. however. when they were
Informed by tho captains of the boats
on which they had sought temporary
safety. that they would not be per-
r'ittcd tn return to Tampico; and
they were soon brought to realiza-
! fion OF the fact that they had been
"Shanghaied" by order Of the Gov
eminent at Washington, nor did they
know their destination until they
were landed at Galveston.