The sun., 1917-09-30

and benefit, but 1t will enable US to
place our undertaking on . broader
basis and to carry our ideas to an
ever growing public" And American
support TIE Friends Of . Freer Ger
many propose heartily to give.
Wont hunger be your greatest ally
in bringing about the characterization
Of Germany" asked Mr.. Butz. "The
people can hardly keep on thinking
the Kaiser the greatest thing ever
when their stomachs pinch-and they
must be pinching pretty badly now"
1T is hard to say" he replied
thoughtfully. II don't believe any
body can tell how much suffering
there is in Germany. We are terribly
in the dark as to conditions there !:
the Government Is very efficient In
hiding them from the rest Of the
world. One day hear one report and
the next day something quite different.
THAT Is one Of the difficulties we
hero have to contend with in any
attempt to help in the democratization
OF Germany. But one thing we do
know: from the reports Of Reichstag
proceedings. from the changed tenor
Of many Of the German newspapers
the spirit Of ls4S is waking again to
a degree that Is rather alarming to
the Kaiser"
But don't you think" I persisted
that 1t will be necessary to give Ger
many good licking before the Statue
Of Liberty can be set up there?"
Very possibly" he admitted. VERY
possibly"
But while the world waits for the
final licking to be administered the
Friends Of Freer Germany will moi
be idle. For one thing. they are send.
ing a message Of cheer with promises
Of aid to the liberal leaders in Ger
many. For another they are start
ing a campaign to get money. And
as before related, they are send
ing tteir sons to administer a por-
tion Of that licking which many Of
them admit may be necessary to pu
Germany into = proper. righteou!
frame Of mind to take Decentralization
gracefully.
I'VE are doing our bit In the war,
Mr.. Butt said emphatically. mo ont
knows the German Americans-awfu
word, but 1t seems to describe us
no one knows the German American,
OF the middle West better than I. To-
have spent thirty years among then
as q practising lawyer, And l tel
you they are absolutely loyal. tn
progress of the draft tells that. W.
are loyal to America"
Mr.. Butz. by the way, married al
American woman who belongs to al
old Revolutionary family and his sol
could claim membership in severa
patriotic societies II he wished.
$50 do I. and so do many Germani
straddle two nations" he told me
And my father" ne went on. IVA
poet Of the German Revolution o
184S. Casper Butz. who migrated I
America when his dream In the oil
world faded"
The new national Friends Of a Free
Germany Is not large in numbers ye
but then two months ago the move
ment was Just barely taking form
Influential men and women are flock
ing to II now-Germans, many of then
but straight Americans too. Colleg
professors. business men, clergymeI
sent letters and kilograms of approvs
and cheer to the convention last weel
and women too were not behindhaG,
; with offers OF help.
: The executive committee. by the wa!
consists Of Ave men, w. r. Bicker {
} Philadelphia, julius Koettgen. Pro
Bierworth Of Harvard. Karl Mathi
Of Wisconsin and Highland Park, III
; and DR.. Frank Bohn OF Now Yorl
Tho last Is to head tho speakers bu
reau and for some time he has bee
going up and down the land tellin
his fellow German Americans thei
duty toward the unhappy people {
their fatherland.