New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
La Follette's Own
State Is Turning
Against Senator
Reaction Shown in Attack
on Him in Legis-
lature
Many Talk of Recall
German Element in Mil
waukee Join Move to
Back Government
lBy TELEGRAPH to The Tribune J

By Telegraph to The Tribune
Milwaukee. March 3.-In Milwaukee.
ever since the outbreak of the world
war, pro-German propaganda has been
active and insistent, although it has
been strongly and consistently OBJ
posed whenever. as it frequently did. 1t
took form inimcal to the United
States.
The chief figures in the pro-German
propaganda have been "The Milwaukee
Free Press" published in English; the
Milwaukee "Germania-H erold," with
morning and afternoon editions; the
German Catholic Weekly Excelsior
and the active workers here in the
German-American Alliance. These
have stood for all measures and move
mcnts tending to serve the interests OF
Germany. and in every controversy be-
tween America and Germany they have
upheld the cause of Germany.
Milwaukee's population is largely
German. The German propaganda has
been well organized from the start,
whereas other elements in the city,
also a large number of loyal German
Americans, have been wholly unorgsn
lied.
Now a strong reaction has set in,
which has shown itself in the recent
criticism Of Senator La Follette's course
and the introduction to-day IN the
state Senate Of resolution by W. II.
Bennett condemnIng La Toilette for
failure TO stand by the government IN
this crisis.
la Toilette Losing Followers
senator George Skogmo, La FOL
lette's leader, resisted its introduction
on +ochnicality, but he was overruled
nv the chair This resolution VIII be
considered in the Senate next Nednes-
day.
ii is significant that some OF the
La Toilette Republicans IN the Legs
laturc are disposed to support the Ben
nett resolutions. II is much more sig
nidcant that nearly all the La Toilette
papers in this state those which nave
supported him through thick ana thlhi
openly censure his course. More dras-
TIC resolutions than those pending arc
being advocated at the state capital
In some quarters demand that ne re-
sign is proposed.
Tho reaction began when loyal Amer /
leans here were aroused by the state |
ments Of Alvin KletZsch. president oil /
the German Austrian Bazaar Associa- /
tion and formerly Republican state I
chairman. who. when he recently re- |
turned from a trip in the East, said: F!
"Thc business men Of Eastern cities |
think that Milwaukee IS hotbcd OF /
sedition. The impression seems 20 I
have got all over the country that Mil |
waukce is a German city, that all the |
inhabitants are Germans and that we |
arc subjects Of Germany. They seem /
10 forget the large number OF Ameri- /
cans. Poles. Scandinayivans, Bohemians /
and Irish there are in the city. The I
sentiment all over is overwhelmingly |
against Milwaukee. Business men in /
tho East seem to want TO boycott Mill /
waukee. Milwaukee certainly has re- |
ceived a black eye and bad adyertis-
ing"
Prominent Citizens Protest
There was instant protest against
the imputation that Milwaukee was not
a loyal American city. Prominent clu-
Gems declared that there was no
foundation FOR believing that Milwau-
kec was a "hotbed of sedtion.' They
said that such an impression wa
caused through the un-American et-
forts OF active pro-German propa-
gandists. and that the Germans Of Mil
waukee. as class, were loyal citizens,
but had been misrepresented by men
who falsely assumed 70 represent the
German-American sentiment. The Ger
man plot for an alliance with Mexico
and Japan to invade this country IN
creased the agitation.
Sixty representative citizens launched
a loyalist movement. They forwarded
message 20 President Wilson IN
which they declared:
1--WE are in entire sympathy with the
policy of effectively protecting the ma
ton against the illegal and unjustl-
fable acts Of Germany. and pledge you
our individual support in any action
you deem proper for that purpose. We
urge upon you the necessity for i'm
mediate and thorough naval and mill
tary preparedness sufficient. and amply
sufficient, TO safeguard the country
against all possible contingencies"
This group of citizens issued a ''call
10 Americans" 10 assure the President
that he would receive united support
in taking effective action to uphold
American rights and defend national
honor.
Response from Thousands
There was response from thou
IL rl.hn cnnf al nir nnrnnn ~ Tho