Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-17
DOCTOR LEIDF DENIES
HATRED" OF GERMANS
Is Pleased Also at Withdrawal
of Objections to Reading Will
sons Address in the Schools

Dr. Joseph I.eidy today expressed salts
faction that Simon Gratz, vice president of
the Board of Education. had withdrawn
his objection to the Presidents message
being read in the public schools.
81 am thoroughly satisfied" said Doctor
Leidy, land as far as | am concerned, the
/ 4 ,ident is now closed The EVENING
EEDGER has performed a valuable and
patriotic service in giving this matter pub
lcity. ] know that as the result of the
article In yesterdays EVENING LEDGER hum
dreds Of school teachers and school children
throughout the city have taken "A lively
interest in this matter The publicity given
Mr.. Gratz's objection to the reading of the
message has caused thousands of persons
tn obtain copies of Mr.. Wilson's wonderful
document, and they have read it with an
attention they would not have otherwise
given it.
"Mr. Gratz yesterday spoke of his an
cestors to show that he was an American
citizen to the bone. 1t was not necessary
for him to display his genealogical tree to
establish his patriotism. No one has had
any doubt of Mr. GratZ's personal patriot
ISM but we do know that he frequently
makes the mistake of allowing mawl<sh
sentimentaityr to creep into his actions
In taking up the discussion In yester
days EVENING LEDGER. Mr.. GratZ, as
usual, lodged the issue. What objected
Educatio4v the Presidents message was
virtually Igeonholed or laid on the table.
'Mr 4atz accuses me of having my
patriotipaf on parade, which is unjust.
Those hep know me, and know of my
activitif Itin the matter of preparedness,
could nj, charge me with being ostentatious
In my fNriotism. | have always tried to
serve S.'W country with conservatism and
withoAIellnfare.
III. HIT be gathered that Mr.. Gratz
sour& Fcast the odium of hating Ger
~ eEhme. | have never hated the Ger
mar. eopNtA believe as do most thought
ful people Ahat the Germans are a very
superior III Rle, and that they have IA
culture WIN Us real In my office here are
pictures oK 10 noted German scientists
and pic &lrf of the University of Berlin.
III hated Germans and Germany ! would
net have U sse things on my premises. IL
was unfair@sf Mr. 'Gratz to place the odium
or an atta0S on German people on me.
i am 5troduct of the Philadelphia pub
lie schoolE and naturally I felt the matter
keenly when movement was started in
the Boapd of Education against the read
ing OF of~Presidents message, which is one
OF IN greatest human documents of all
his attfude."
When seen this afternoon in his office in
Ethe Board of Revision of Taxes, Mr.. Gratz
said There are some people who would
like to drive every one of the German teach
ers out of our public schools into the street.
They have hate in their hearts and their
reason has been unbalanced by. that hate.
President Wilson has cautioned us against
such hatred, and intend to follow out his
program of fairness and decency Why, |
Know Of a woman who discharged her dress
maker this week just because that woman
was German. And, mind you. this German
woman had been in America for many years
and was am honest. law-abiding woman.
with no thought of being disloyal to the
land OF her adoption, We Americans must
not allow the hatred of nationalities to