Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
German PROFESSOR
IS EXONERATED IN
ALUMNI REPORT


attorncy-gcncral Of the state Of Yer.
mont.
We find no anti-Amcrican activity Of
any kind, unless his letter Of December
3, 1915, addressed to Dr. Rohrbach can
In and of itself be considered such. He
had written to Or. Rohrbach few times
before the letter in question, but he had
kept no copies Of these prior letters The
letter Of December 8 was his first type
written letter. sent to DR.. Rohrbach. and
q carbon copy Of that letter, which called
Dut tho reply Of DIR. Rohrbach, dated
january 30. 1916. was retained by Prof.
Appelmann and tho translation of the
Same as made by him is attached to this
Report. s,,..,-
4 We have considered all Of tho cirrum-
6tanccs attending tho correspondence with
DR.. Rohrbach. We have Intercepted
Prof Appelmann concerning the sense in
which various words and phrases have
been used In the letter in question. A ma
pority of the committee find that the
letter was written in tho manner of corre-
epondence between friends. whose corrc-
spondence was largely upon political and
educational matters. that Prof. Appel
mann at the time Of writing tho letter
was not an agent or official of tho Ger
man government except as before stated.
he was a so-called exchange assistant
accountable to the department of educa-
tion Of Prussia and he was on furlough
from the Landsturm, a reserve military
organization of Germany to which he
was attached We find that DR.. Rohrbach
was not holding any official position at
the time. The first part of the letter
pertained to the Ford peace party and we
find that that portion Of the letter was
written in the hope that the matters
i therein contained might reach citizens
and government officials of Germany who
would make use Of the information to
bring about peace and particularly to
benefit tho relations existing between
Germany and tho United States The re.
Tainder Of the letter was a political dis.
cussion touching the subject Of American
preparedness and discussion Of what
would be proper attitude for German
American citizens to take upon that ques-
ton In order to improve their stua-
ton as American citizens. We find
that the words proper authorities
IN tho concluding paragraph of Pro-
lessor Appelmapn's letter. as used by
MIN, mean not persons in official posi-
ton. but persons who have studied a
question thoroughly and speak from a
broad knowledge of the subject. And
we find that this part of the letter was
written solely to get DR.. Rohrbach's
views upon the subject. And at the
time the letter was written to DR..
Rohrbach Professor Appelmann was a
German citizen who had taken out his
hrst naturalization papers in this
country. He was therefore. as he him
self states, equally interested in Ger
many and the United States. And it
was also natural for him to endeavor
TO make his position on American po-
litical questions compatible as far as
he could with the welfare of Germany.
Tho only anti-American activity
found by the minority against Prof.
Appelmann Is this letter. Any claim
of any other anti-American activity
there might be rests wholly upon sus-
picion and is supported by no evidence
whatsoever.
This letter of Prof. Appelmann to
DR.. Rohrbach was officially and pub.
lfcly discussed weeks before the reso-
luton authorizing this COMMITTEES to
investigate anti-American activities
Of Prof. Appclmann.
We seriously question whether the
alumni created a committee to sit in
Judgment upon whether or not the
sending Of that letter was -Ameri-
can. provided nothing else was found
against him. If the alumni had known
at the time of passing the resolution
as our investigation disclosed that the
letter is the only thing which can be
claimed to be an anti-American activ-
tty. the resolution would not have been
passed. We regard that letter as
something which caused suspicion that
Prof. Appelmann was surreptitiously
working for Germany officially or
otherwise. Our investigation clears
him of any such charge.
But II it was intended that we pass
ind ARt thot 1ntk
the following:
While upon a critical examination OF
Professor Appelmanns statements made
to the committee, isolated statements may
be found which when taken by them
selves may appear to contradict some of
these findings. still a majority of the COM
u1ittee. after weighing all of the facts
and circumstances presented. and after
observing the conduct of Professor Appel
mann - a witness. and giving his state
mentS such credibility as VIC think they
fairly and reasonably are entitled to. find
no auti-American activities Of any kind
in his words and conduct touching the
letter in question. On the contrary, we
IND that all Of Professor Appelmanns
activities were in line with his efforts
directed In his own way to bring about
a better mutual understanding between
Germany and the United States.
These are all Of the matters concern
ing which any claim has been made to
the committee of anti-American activities
ol the part of Professor Appelmann, and
as said before a majority Of the committee
md no un-American or anti-American
activities.
However. VIC think 1t was unfortunate
that no did not reply fully and frankly
to the editor of tho Outlook and the
newspapers by whom he was Intercepted
concerning the letter of DR.. Rohrbach
written to him in reply to the letter OF
December 8. 1916. when it first appeared
in the New York Times April 5, 1916 For
It u probable that had he furnished a
COPY of his letter with the explanations
made by Professor Appelmann to this
committee concerning the same, tho pub
LEFTY which followed would have been
avoided. But In this connection we find
that when he received the letter from
tho Outlook he sought President Benton
for advice concerning the proper reply
to make, that President Benton was away
from the city at the time. and Professor
Appelmann made the reply which he did
make without consulting the president
$ We submit herewith a transcript of the
evidence introduced before US with certain
letters and papers received and consid-
cred by US.
. Dated at Burlington. VT. this 10th day
Of January. A. D.. 1917.
Respectfully submitted.
EDWARD Fl. DEAVITT.
CARROLL w. DOTEN,
t N. c. ROBBINS.
EDWIN w. LAWRENCE.
A Ma iorifv n thu COn,Dnfffne