New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Hope Against War, but
Ready to Support Action
by President
"T!ME TO SHUT UP"
DECLARES METZ
May Bring Modification
from Germany, Says
Henry Weismann

Cerman-Americans and others who
have been prominent in the pro-Ger-
man movement in the United States
came out strongly for America against
Germany or any other nation which
might try to curtail the rights OF Amer
leans.
While most Of them prefaced their
statements with the nope that the
United States might not be plunged in
to the war, without exception they de-
clared that they stood ready TO support
any action that President Wilson or
Congress may take.
at is a serious situation" said Her
man A. Metz, former member OIL Coh,
cress and former city Controller, land
no one but President Wilson has
right TO say or do anything about IL
The matter is and should be entirely
in his hands, and We must stand oenind
him in whatever he does, or we are
not good American citizens. IL Is tlme
to shut up. The relations between the
United States and Germany are In tne
hands of one man, and that man Is
President Wilson. Any one who doesn't
stand behind Mr.. Wilson and back up
whatever he does is neither good
American nor q good citizen"
"Our rupture with Germany is Ca
iam;tv. because it closes the last door
70 peace said George Sylvester Vie.
reek. editor of 1.-THE Fatherland" and
prominent in pro- German circles. "Hav-
inc broken with Germany, we must now
Immediately sever diplomatic relations
with Great Britain, unless the mines
with which she has sown the North sea
are so constructed as to give warning
before sinking innocent merchantmen.
For America First
"Between England and Germany, l
am for Germany. Between America and
Germany, am for America Always;
Fortunately, we are not yet emDr0I Ii.'
IN the war trust that President Will
aon will be able to maintain peace. 1
know That he can maintain peace II ne
demands of both belligerents alike strict
ohservance of the Declaration OF Lon
DON" -
az do not regard the severance OF
Diplomatic relations as necessary step
toward war" said Henry Weismann'
nresident of the New York State Ger
man-American Alliance. ION the con-
trarv IL may be a means of bringing
about a modification Of Germany's an
nounced intention so far as our rights
SOn the other hand, il may mean that
Americans and American ships. aware
of the fact that diplomatic relations
have been severed, will avoid going into
the war zone, and thereby. perhaps
furnish the best protection OF our
peace and the prevention OF overt acts
that may lead to war"
Backs Wilson's Action
ain this most serious crisis OF our
country since the Civil War;" SAID Jere-
miah OLeary, president Of the Ameri-
can Truth Society, 81 believe 1t Is the
duty of every American citizen TO stsho
back of whatever action is taken by the
Pendent and Congress. No matter
what may have been our feelings mere
tofore about the merits Of the Euro
mean war or about the attitude OF our
government to the warning nations.
there can be no reservations on the
mart of true Americans in the support
that their citizenship and PATRIOTISM
owes TO our common country.
"The present crisis has brought 70
nv mind two questions" said DR.. Ed
mund Won Mach, one of the leaders in
the German propaganda "The fact is:
what would American fathers do II
they saw their wives and children
threatened with reduced and insufficient
rations, as German fathers probably do
now. IL this was due to q mode of brit-
ish warfare which the President him
aeIf has characterized as indefensib!e
and iliegal?' The second are the fol-
lowing paragraphs of the Constitution
of the United States, still an active
force In the public life Of America:
Article l, Section 8, Nos. 3. 10 and II,
which read: That Congress shall have
power to regulate commerce with for
eign nations; that Congress shall have
power to define and punish piracies and
felonies committed on the high seas
and offences against the law Of ma
tions: that Congress shall have power