American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-03-02
GERMAN SOCIETY ORGANIZED
WITH LARGE MEMBERSHIP
Four Hundred Germans Listen to Ad-
dresses by Prominent Speakers
Gustav KrOeger Of Boise Leading
Speaker of the Day.

Monday the Germans of Power
County organized a German society,
adopted a constitution, elected offic-
ers, and decided to hold big meet
ing each year, probably during the
month of May. Ninety-three signed
the membership roll and this number
will be very largely increased. Owing
to the condition of the roads many
did not arrive until the morning ses-
sion had ended.
Frank Kluck was elected chairman
and H. Werner, secretary of the meet
ing, and after the constitution had
been adopted and the membership roll
signed, the following officers were
elected: President, A. C. Haag; first
vice president, Manual Adolf; second
vice president, Frank Kluck; Secre-
tary, H. Werner: treasurer, Sam
Kramlich; directors, F. w. Schnabel,
Joe Wagner and John Deeg, Jr.
In the afternoon about four hum
dred Germans gathered at the Audi
torium to listen to the addresses.
Secretary Werner acted as chairman
and introduced the speakers. The
address of welcome was given by
Professor Richard Warwas, who
spoke of Germany's right to be proud
of her various triumphs in different
realms of learning, saying that it was
the duty of every German American
to know of these successes and to
further the interests of science, liter
ature and art here in the land of his
adoption. However, the sense of 10y
er be construed to imply disloyalty
to the United States, rather remem-
bering gratefully the attainments of
their forefathers, the Germans shall
seek to establish a reputation here
such as shall be a fulfillment of the
prominence of their forefathers be-
yond the seas.
Professor Martin Radke, in force
full address, breathing spirit of good
citizenship and personal responsible
ity, urged the German brothers to
teach their children the German lang
uage. Not a great deal of time is re-
quired for this he said. Ten minutes
a day from the time children enter
school will give them a working
knowledge of the mother tongue, a
knowledge most important if they ara
to appreciate the history of their
parents native land. He told them
his Grandfather had kept the German
tongue through Russian exile and a
Turkish sojourn. He spoke of the
characteristics of sobriety, earnest
ness, economy, patience and kind
ness, the inherent possession of his
kinsmen. These form the foundation
of the German home and the German
state. AS we identify ourselves with
this young, growing nation, let US
hold fast to these genuine factors in
the making of happy homes and pros
porous nations.
Hon. Gustav Kroeger of Boise, the
leading speaker of the day, was next
introduced. AS did those proceeding
his he used the German tongue. His
address was quite lengthy and very
able. No attempt is made to repro
duce 1t literally, but rather to retain
the thread of his thoughts, in the fol-
lowing. He was much surprised to
find so many Germans in this locali-
ty, never dreaming that the county
contained as many as confronted him
He expected to be among strangers
but found several friends, one OF
whom, C. w. Thompson of the Rem
ington, he had known in Omaha thir-
ty years ago. He was glad, he said
to take part in a genuine German fete
Germans are somewhat thinly settled
throughout our state, but the ingram
ed habits of our German fathers draw
us together to remember the land oi
our infancy. Doubly sweet rings the
mother tongue in hours of danger
and twice as strong the bond holds Us
together who, in new, strange land
sought and found a new home. The
times are all too sad for us to hold q
festival with our accustomed joyful
ness and freedom from care. Count
less mothers wall and mourn at the
graves of beloved sons who have sac
rificed their lives for the fatherland
just as countless other mothers
await anxiously each coming day
fearful lest they may also have shar
ed the same fate. Parents mourn
their sons and children their fathers
Daily death tears assunder the tender
est ties of love and friendship which
have been forged. 1t is therefor'
suitable that we give proper recogni
ton to these manifestations of sym
pathy and love.
1t was not Germany that willed tn
war. She carries not the blame TO
this monstrous flow of blood. No de
sire of conquest, no lost province, NJ
inner sense Of bondage. no pressing
OF commerce forced our fatherland In
to this war The German people wer