The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-10-16
SHAME ON BERGER!
BY Theodore Roosevelt.

Mr. VICTOR BERGER, the socialist leader OF Milwau-
kec, IS reported in the press a, SnccrinR at the Liberty
bonds, bcrating the administration for, as he says, appoint
ing thirty three wealthy capitalists on the national council
OF defense, and, in effect, seeming to persuade his hearers
that they ought, at this crisis OF foreign war, 10 be hostile
to those OF their countrymcn who are capitalists" instead
OF The kaiser.
This is natural The socialist party machine in this
country is rVn by Germans. Socialists who were sincerely
DESTROYS Of social bcttcrmcnl and who were sincere in this
hatred OF tyranny and wrong doing, have left the socialist
party Those who remain in it have turned it into a mere
tool Of the brutal militatIStic aurocracy which now threat
ems the world. These men are completely dominated by
the Germans, and German socialists in America have
shown in this crisis that they are Germans first, socialists
along away second, and not Americans at all In fact
they arc enormously hostile to the country in which
they dwell and claim citizenship and are eagerly ready to
sacrifice socialism itself to the interests OF the Germany
OF the HohenlolcrnS. They stand well to the front among
the shadow Huns who. within Our gates, are the allies OF
the HuuS without our gates.
While in Wisconsin was told that the German meri-
can alliance, in its efforts to persuade American citizens to
betray their citizenship in the interests OF Germany, had
relatively as many adhcrents among the socialists a., among
the two great parties, Among the socialists under such
leadership who oppose or sheer at the Liberty loan, it
is proof positive that all patriotic citizens should buy Lib
cry ponds up 10 the unit OF thcir ahlnty Inc socialists
attack the Liberty loan in order to hurt America and help
Germany. The domination Of American capitalism is a
mere blind to obscure the service they are trying to render
to the capitalists and militarists of Germany.
For the composition Of tho national council of defense,
am sorry that more labor men and farmers are not on
it, but wish they could be put on in addition to, not as
substitutes for the men OF means who are on it, for these
men OF means, taken as a whole, have at much cost to
rendered devoted and invaluable service to the
nation. Their absence would be a general calamity to
America and a great aid to Germany, and all true lovers
OF America should recognize this fact. know some of
these men personally, and those whom know have sacri-
feed time, effort and money in order to be of help to the
at this iuncturc. In fact, | have never known more
devoted public service than that they rendered at this
1t is unpatrio,ic at this time TO attack good Americans
because they have capital and are trying to make this CAPT
tai of service in the war. Capital is necessary to business
and industry, and in this war industrial efficiency is al
as necessary as military skill. The factories at home
are almost as important as the armies in the field Wise
war taxation Of capital and profits is cmlnently necessary,
but il must not go to an extent that will interfere with
and the forward movement of business, or wide
spread calamity would result
We arc a grea, nation, engaged in a stupendous war.
Let us use dollars as We use the loaded shells, and each
can do its best work only under the leadership Of the ableSt
man. The business man in one case, the military man in
the other. BY all means, let the people be masters OF the
capital OF the country at the present time, The surest way
to do this is for the people themselves to buy the Liberty
bonds and not leave them to Wall street. They are the
one absolutely safe investment, both for men OF small means
and men Of large means.
Copyright, 1917, The Kansas City Starr