The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-03-31

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 81
Rumors persisted for several days that
certain we'll known and prominent busl.
ness men in the Capital of German
birth, had been taken in hand by the
secret service men. There were wild
stories of their disloyalty afloat. They
spread like prairie fire. 1t was an
embarrassing predicament for these
men to find themselves suddenly plung-
ed in, for there was no truth in what
everybody in town was talking about
and most of them believing. 1t reach.
ed the point that the unjustly accused
citizens, all respectable, successful and
lawabiding citizens of many years resi-.
dence in Washington, found it neces-
sary to issue statements TO the press,
and one of them, Gus" BuchholtZ, at
whose hotel many West Virginia visit
tors may be found at all times, put his
in shape Of a display advertisement.
1t was humiliating for these men to
have 10 make such conspicuous dis.
play, but 1t must be said that 1t was
necessary. There was nothing else
for them to do to put stop to the UNI
just suspicion, having not scintilla
of fact to rest upon, directed against
them by almost the entire population
of this big city. Guide, the florist,
whose parents were born in this coun-
try, who leads in all civic ana patrlotl,
demonstrations held here, and VINO
marched side by side with President
Wilson In the great Preparedness pa.
rade last year-Gude was one whose
loyalty was suspected. Ernest Ger.
stenberg, proprietor for thirty years of
the University of Gerstenberg," rem.
devious Of writer's and politicians, was
not spared by the scandalmongers.
Martin Weigan, leading capitalist, was
named in the anonymous reports as
they flew about. Theirs was fore.
taste of what is likely to happen to
other natives OF Germany in other cit
les and towns OF the country in the
wartime days expected soon to come
1t may interest and instruct these PEG.
Pile to read how Gus" Buchholtz, the
hotel man, met the issue. Under dis
play head in all the Washington news
papers-"Trying Times for German
Americans by Gustav Buchholtz, Prop.
Hotel Occidental"-he published this:
Facing the many rumors afloat coll
corning the disloyalty and unfaithful-
ness OF German.Americans at this time,
now that war seems pending, | wish
to mako few statements concerning
my own position. When Germany was
fighting the Old World, naturally my
sympathies were with the land of my
birth, but now that this country seems
to be on the verge Of war, want it
plainly understood that my sympathies
are with the land of my adoption and
that my one sense of duty is to Amer.
:ca and my oath of loyalty knows of no
conditions and no reservations.
'I arrived In this country when
mere boy. have been citizen Of the
United States over twenty years. For
fifteen years have been in Washing
ton, and want to express my hearty
thanks to the people Of the District
for their support, TO which is due the
SUCCESS ] nave made. | have every
reason to believe that my patrons trust
my loyalty. i
ITO every true American citizen
say: Stand by the President l shall;
Stauu Ny NY HtSsAueH"' MI
son."
Wandered into the Botanical Gar
dens today and, after giving me the
cnce over and deciding that was just
in from West Virginia, Indiana or Kan
sas negro guide picked me up and l
decided to let Nature and the negro
run their course. will say that I
learned more new aud interesting
things about flowers and plants from
Archie Armstrong, erstwhile Metho-
DIST exh1rter, than ever did reading
Luther Burbank or Tom Lawson on the
Lawson Pink. Archie's line OF stun
may not be as funny as the ION Guard"
sketch McIntire and Heath are giving
at vaudeville house here this week,
but it's the fault of the stuff, not the
dialect and his makeup. Would you
believe that cabbages have sprouted |
out Of cabbage palms at the Botanical |