New-York tribune., 1918-04-17
West Is Crowded
With Pro-Gerrnans,
DR.. McElroy Says
Government Should In
vestigate University of
Wisconsin, He Declares

DR.. Robert McElroy, back from the
National Security League speaking
tour. which took him through nine
states, filled in yesterday the back
ground of some of his charges of pro-
Germanism and anti-Amercanism
"At the University of Wisconsin" he
said, "wherc there are about 1000 stu
dents, | spoke to large audience Of
young men wearing the khaki OF the
United States. l was telling them of
Americas real purposes and aims and
ideals in this war. 1t seemed to me
that from the outset the audience took
strangely little interest in the things
| was talking about, the cause for
which l was pleading.
"For the most part, once they had
learned that American patriotism was
my theme, they sat with folded arms
staring weariy up at the ceiling From
time to time they'd turn and look at
each other and smile superciliously
sort OF pityingly. There was good
deal of fidgetng and shutting of feet
Several times, generally at the most
strongly patriotic portions of my talk
sounds which bore every sign of being
subdued Kisses could be heard. Later
it was offered to me in explanation
that these were warnings to the noisy
ones to be quiet; but they didn't sound
that way to me.
,When began to quote from some
of President Wilson's messages" con-
tinued DR.. McElroy, "the rattle OF
swapping rife triggers throughout the
audience men, being under com
pulsory military training, have guns
sounded very much like an attempt to
break up the speech.
"Finally couldn't stand it any
longer. determined to find out
whether it was my fault or whether
it was the American point of view
that these young men objected TO-
so | leaned forward and deliberately
insultcd them.
"'Do you know what think of yor
from your conduct tonight | said. q
think you're a bunch of damned
traitors!'
A loud outcry of protest? A stampede
to pull me down on the platform? 4
demand that | rctract that afTront tt
their university? No, sir; not any Of
those things. What happened was alb
solutely nothing not murmur. not ;
sound, except that toward the back o
the room few men snickcrcd.
81 was not only thundcrstruck; | wa:
appalled,. If speaker said that to
group of mon at my university, Prince
ton, should hate to have to answer
for the consequences. But even then
thought ia test them a little further
give them another chance, as it were
SO little later | said: I've Otter
wondered what it would be like tt
speak before Prussian audience.
think | know now Still there was nj
protest t-no slightest sign of resent
mcnt.
81 hesitate" Dr. McElroy continued
'to accuse an entire university of dis
loyalty, and many people have since
tried to reassurc me as TO Wisconsin
They insist that it's absolutely al
right, and certainly hope that it is
as one Of the most disgraceful things
have encountered, especially coming
from state in which 100000 disloya
votes were recently registered. sa,
that Il thing like. that should be inycs-
tigatcd."
Commenting on the prevalence o,
enemy sympathzers in America. DR.
MciIlroy stated that 80 per cent of the
Wisconsin population to-day is German
and 20 per cent German by marriage.
Owe are not even yet fully awake tc
what this mcans," he declared. al wa.
out there when the news Of the Ger
man advance was coming through, ant
from the reception it got you woule
scarcely have gained the impression
that it was blow to America 70,
would have been far more likely te
suppose that it was somehow cause
for concentration in this country"
DR.. McElroy also named Oregon
North Dakota and Michigan as state,
with extensive communities that nrt
quite undisguised IN their sympath,
for the foe, while in Monroe County
ILL.,, he dec Jared. feeling against Amori
cnn participation in the war ran sc
high that one delegation OF Libcrt,
Loan orators WAS threatened with shot
guns
In Washington County, in the south