American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-16
MIST M 4 MISTAKE.

With Governor Alexander setting
the example Ia q sensational Interview
last sprinR when burning patriotism
gave license to his tongue. u has be-
come fashionable In some parts OF the
state 10 brand the German people OF
Power county as being unpatriOtic.
We were hardly expecting, however,
10 ind "a OF our own citizens lending
color 10 such an unjust charge. and
we're much surprised 10 md the fol-
lowing under a glazing headline Ia
Wednesday, Idaho Daily Statesman.
Evidences that many Germans ia
this state believe that food viii win
ne war" are found by Il. y. Blckneli.
food administrator for Idaho. Ia re-
ports received Of their refusal 10 sign
food pledge cards.
This Was particularly true IN Pow
~ county. County Chairman Edward
A. strong. publisher Of the Power
County News. reported Tuesday as
follows; Personally I am very much
disappointed as 20 the results OF the
strenuous canvass made among the
mrmera- ao not believe they realize
the importance OF the work. Many.
or most all Germans. would not sign
the cards az all We have a large
German population la our county
Mr.. Strong must have been mis-
quoted No ono knowing the German
people la Power county as Mr. Strong
knows them. could hardly make such
a statement charging many or most
all" the German people OF Withholding
their support from the government
n is true that some people refused TO
Sign the food saving pledge. bur not
all OF them we're Germans Some Of
them werc American women who had
previously signed an Identical pledge
circulated hy the WOman'a Council Of
National Defense Ia August. there
we're some others OF foreign birth. not
Germans. who could not read English.
who refused 20 sign. There were un-
doubtcdly some Germans who do not
read English. and talk and understand
Il imperfoctly. who refused 10 sign.
The Press does not know OF a single
German leader Ia any part OF the
county, nor Of one who reads and
speaks English. who has Ia any way
ohHtructed the food saving movement.
n the American people aa a whole
were a. careful and saving Ia food
matters a. the German people Of Pow.
e. county there would be no need OF
a food conserving campaign.
Among some OF the people OF tbs
county who DO not read English hicl
includes others thaR-H6fmans, Their,
has arisenh~saSpicion that the foo,
-euusrfVfdg plan Is a f%orcrunner o
connscatiou OF supplies and som,
have refused 20 sign on this ground
Where the purpose has been ex
piained. however. the Press knows o
not a single Instance where refusa
90 sign was adhered 10.
There are unquesti0nably a few
people Ia the county whose sympath
los are strongly pro-German. Bu
speaking Of patriotism, those cOmparl
most fayOrahly with the striking ship
builders and coal miners. or with IN
American laborers at idaho Falls Wit
demand $40 and si2 a day TO help IN.
farmers harvest their potato crops
No one has any right TO libel the Ger
man people OF Power county. The
have Loyalty aud literally contributes
Co the Red Cross and Army Y NJ G. A
and have been liberal supporters O
the two Liberty Loan Bond campaigns
10 the Germans OF the county are Il
be- criticized as a class, what mus
be- said Of the native born American
who have not walked up. Before lend
ing crcdcnce to such reports as give.
out by Mr. Bicknell. an American
should make "a careful search for re
ceipfs FOR money given 20 the Rcl
Cross and Army Y NJ g. A., or uael
o. purchase Liberty Loan bonds
Those aho find none should with
hold aii criticism az others