South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-27
STATEMENT DESIRED
ON WAR QUESTION
Rev. Turk Makes Public Dec
laratiOn Through The
NeWS-TimeS.

In reply 10 the most recent article
Of The News-Times regarding dis
loyal and reasonable statements
against the United States govern
ment by persons of any nationality
in the present threatened national
crisis. the following written state
ment is submitted TO The News
Times for publication by the Rev
Otto Turk. pastor Of st. Peters
German Lutheran church: The un-
dersigned heartily endorses the
stand taken by The News-Times in
exposing and condemning all re-
marks and acts OF a reasonable
character. Such remarks and acts,
If committed by citizens Of German
descent, are especially regrettable
inasmuch as il besmirches the en-
viable reputation, born out by his
tory, OF the loyal and aw-abidine
character of Americans
Such citizens. as commit acts of a
reasonable character. should stop
and consider just for a moment that
they are doing harm TO themselves
and TO the cause which they pretend
TO uphold. Nothing has harmed the
German cause in this country as
much as the acts of Iawlessness
which up TO the present time have
been laid TO the charge of Ger
man sympathizers. But as citizens
of this country we are not interested
so much in the German cause. as
we are in the welfare Of our own
country. Should this country be fore
ed into war, the overwhelming ma
jority Of citizens Of German descent
will prove their loyalty to this
country in the future as they have
done in the past. Above all things
can they be figured upon 70 help
uphold law and order But, thank
God, we are not yet at war with
any foreign country. And just so
long as this is the case, il is not only
the inalienable right, but also the
sacred duty of the citizen
TO consider we'll and con-
scientiously whether this coun-
try shall go into war with a foreign
nation or not, and then 20 make
known his opinion TO his represen-
tatives in Washington. Now what
situation faces our country at the
present time? We all know that war
is imminent. A great part Of The
News-Times is daily announcing
in flaring headlines that war with
Germany is inevitable, q foregOne
conclusion and all that remains for
congress AMI our president TO do
next Monday. April 2nd, is 10 de-
clare war on Germany. What is the
true status of affairs? High officials
at Washington have admitted the
following facts:
England has made itself guilty
Of violations of our American rights
under international law no less ser
ious than those committed by Ger
many. e e.. mining of the illegal
war zone resulting in the destruction
of five American ships with loss Of
American lives.
2-Germany was willing 20 abide
by the declaration of London: TO
abandon unlawful submarine war
fare against merchant vessels if her
enemies could and would be brought
TO abide by international law; to
meet her adversaries in peace coun-
Gil. as suggested by Pres't Wilson,
mad lay her terms upon the table.
England on the other hand rendered
all overtureS null and void.
S-Prominent members OF con-
gress hold that war could and should
be avoided. In view Of these facts
the question is only reasonable and
fair: If we have patiently submitted
10 the order OF the British admiral
" declaring the North sea a mill
tary area" and sowing there a mine
field 10 blow up neutral vessels
without warning, should we not ac-
cord the same treatment to Ger
many when she. i'm like disregard
Of American rights-but as little in
a hostile spirit towards us as Eng
manufacturers the waters around
the British Isles a "warZone" and
likewise blows up neutral vessel 5
with submarine torpedoes Or does
possibly the honor and dignity Of
our country demand IL that we de-
clare war on Germany and let Eng
land go unpublished Is there more
honor and dignity in being fair and
Just than in asserting our rights
over against a country whose wom-
en- and children are on the verge OF
starvation and who is lighting for its
existence against half the world