The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-29

day, March II, 1902, for Germany.
On the afternoon of the same day,
when the prince was still within sight
of the American shore, the tempest
broke with unprecedented fury In
Washington. Almost frantic with ex-
element a mob of yelling, shouting.
bowling, shrieking newsboys ran
through the streets OF the national
capital, selling extra editions OF the
local newspapers which contained the
announcement that war with Ger
many was imminent.
Through certain channels generally
used by the American government the
information was given out to the
press that Ambassador Won Holleoen,
having failed 10 make any headway
with the Mckinley administration IN
accomplishing the desires OF his gov
eminent regarding coaling stations IN
the Caribbean Sea, decided finally
that these coaling stations could best
be obtained under Mr.. Bryan. 1t was
further stated that the am bassador
was in frequent communication. with
the prominent Democrats friendly 10
the Bryan campaign. 1t was, more
over, alleged that these conferences
the consultations were held for the
purpose OF influencing the German
vote in behalf of Bryan. II was tur-
Their asserted that the ambassador
was in close touch with Representa-
tive John J. Lentz, OF Columbus, ONO,
a German-American, who, in the case
of Bryan's election, expected to rep
resent the United States as amoas-
sador at the court Of Berlin.
Mr.. Lcntz was one of the most pic
turesQue Bryan figures in congress.
and the attacks he made on President
Mckinley and Chairman Hanna were
such that the latter In 1900. deter
mined at all hazards to retire MT.
I.entz 10 private life, and he was, de.
fcated by the narrow margin OF about
A dozen votes. II IS represented 70
have been the dream of Mr.. 'Lentz ana
the ambassador that they might De-
able to throw the German-Amerlcan
vote against the administration ana
put Mr.. Bryan in the. White House.
il was remembered that Mr.. Lentz
had organized throughout the country
a series of German-American indlSna:
lion meetings denouncing the foreign
po]icy of the administration as being
inspired by British sympathies and
that he had been a member OF the
House Committee for Military Affairs
"A fact that gave an ugly look 10
certain leakaees that had occurred
within that body. =
Under date of September 10. 1901,
the active publicity agent OF the
kaiser, the late Professor Hugo Nun
sterberg, of Harvard university, a
close friend of the kaiser and one or
the most tireless agents Of German
interests in America, containing the
following threat:
"Wenn Sic auch mir den Seringsten
Schritt, um Deutschland bier in den
Zeitungen oder bel den austlichen
Personen in Miskredit -zu bringen. SO
werden Sic fur allie Zeiten die Yer.
folgung des Deutschen Reiches auf
ziehen." or in English: IF you should
undertake the least step to discredlt
German in the newspapers. you would
be prosecuted. for all time by the
German empire"
A little more than two months
later, the same publicity agent was
compelled to appeal to the president
Of the United States for protection
against persecution by the secret
hirelings Of the German empire. 1t
must be borne in mind that the above
letter was written and an investtga-
ton ordered by the president before
the announcement of the coming visit
Of Prince Henry had been made from
Berlin. The United States secret
service was put on the case with the
result already known.
When in those stormy days OF
March, 1902. the representatives Of
the press called on the German pub
licity agent. whose loyalty to America,
was stronger than his love for his
imperial boss, he gave them a de.
tailed account embracing the follow.
ing charges:
1.-Germany has plans OF all
naval defences In the United
. States.
H.-An army OF German spies
Is overrunning the United States.
III. - The German mobilizing
plan is ready to the last detail.
W.-There exists a secret con-.