The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-25

among the class Of German born AEner-
leans who came to this country before
the mighty hand of the Hohenzollern
revealed its motives for world conquest
and among that class which Is pro-
German for profit.
This is the explanation fer the Ger
man sympathy in this country which Is
given by George Fritz Peters. stu
dent at the State University and II ma
tive OF Germany, who spent most Of his
life In that country and saw the kor-
rible atrocities committed by the rul-
ing class in order to mold a mighty
machine to conquer the world.
Asa student Of Psychology and philos
Ophy, Mr.. Peters has been able to un-
derstand the motives of the govern
ment OF his country and in an inter-
view with a Missoulian reporter he ex-
posed the frightfulness Of pan-Ger-
manistic methods for world suprem-
aoy.
Ignorant Of Real Motives.
1.-THE immigrants who came to Amer
lea shortly after Bismarck made a
united Germany in 1871 are pro-Ger-
man because they are ignorant of the
real substructure that funderlies the
German government" said Mr.. Pc
tiers. "They do not know the Germany
OF the present period and the period
just preceding the war They only
think of it in the terms of happier
yesterday. To be sure, many earlier
comers to this country have gone back
and visited, but they weoe blinded to
the real conditions by bewildering
changes wrought by the newer regime.
They did not see the bloody riots in
Hamburg which resulted from the
peoples protest against the autocrats.
they could not feel the tightening grip
of Hohenzollern fingers as they slowly
clamped down on the common mans
throat, nor did they ever experience
the prick Of the cold steel OF the bayo-
net at their breasts. Blinded. bewild-
cred, astounded. they ambled through
the empire and their native heaths and
back to America to tell of marvellous
Germany l know what l am talking
about because l was there. l have
taken part in protest demonstrations
when the kaisers bullets slew honest
man-a and ! haze seen and hated the I'M
speAkable methods which made
Deutschland, uber alles.'"
With his tall frame bowed in hui
initiation, 1t seems. for the crimes
against humanity his people were
forced by that sodden undercurrent to
commit and with eyes alternately kim
died with hate for the scepter, that in
duced that righteousness. and then
softened in love for the gentle folk. his
relatives, companions and friends who
have been changed by the subtlest sub
terfuge of that power into bestiality
that knows no bounds, Mr.. Peters tells
the story Of his life which in expe
rience and real vision wrought by cir
cumstances is one Of transcendent hui
mat interest.
Now an, American.
Il want to say" he said. grayely,
that my life, or to be in my position
now, is no fun. Sometimes man must
sacrifice every attachment and senti-
mental tie for what he believes is the
truth. it very often is far easier to
rot in foul trenches in blind Ignorance
OF the truth than 1t is to be given the
liberty of the world and recognize it
for soldiers. die for more than coun-
try.
IT am an American now because see
the truth. America is right I have
taken out naturalization papers some
time ago because want America tc
be my country, but" he added witt
trembling voice, across the water to.
night are four brothers and father
in German trenches and two sisters
who are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. they
are through fighting, for ! haven
heard from them for two years. The,
believed that Germany was right. bu
they never got far enough away from
their native land to see the disease
which the world calls pan Germanism
which, fungus like, had sent its mycelit
into the life Of the people and poi
soned them, blinded and duped them
They will awaken, but it will be to-
late"
George Peters has only been In thi
country four years. He landed in New
York city but few months before TIN
war began, but during that time he ha
had a wonderful opportunity of study
ing America and the country's aims an,
ideals. At the Press club in Chicag
he was familiar character and amonl
his list of acquaintances are many o
the famous political leaders. educators
journalists and novelists Of the day.
Attended German University.
Just prior to coming to America, MI
Peters completed his work in Hambur
Polytechnic institute in architecture
but his interests grew more toward tn
study of sociology, literature and phi
losophy and he intends to make a spe
cialty Of these subjects, and being a
assiduous reader as we'll as possessin
other qualifications as a scholar. h
may be looked upon as a man who wi
be OF great usefulness in thes
branches.
"The thing that helped more tina
anything else in making me an Amer
lean were the words OF President VII
son in his message to congress whe
war was declared. in which he DIRE
the distinction between the Germa
government and the German peopl
Those words set America out as tt
messenger OF a new national idealisr
Americas ideals SO far transcend tho:
of all other nations. that other people
cannot comprehend it ALL A war whit
is fought for an ideal rather than col
quest or gain cannot be understood
European countries.
u grew into young manhood durir