The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-11-28
CHAPTER XIV.
Thc Kaiser and Things American.

ideas concerning our people and our
institutions. | have had patients Of
intelligence and education ask me how
we are abe to cope with the Indians.
In view Of the extent Of German emf
grafton to America and the vast vol
m Of commercial transactions be-
tween the two countries, 1t Is almost
unbelievable that such erroneous no
tons should prevail in these enlight-
ened days, but they do.
This fact partially serves to explain
how easy 1t was for the kaiser and his
inspired press to pull the wool over
the peoples eyes regarding the unim-
pOrtance of Americas entry into the
war. 1t doesn't explain at all, how
ever, how completely the kaiser him
self underestimated us and our power,
for i doubt whether there is any for
eigner living, who has never visited
America who knows more about our
country than the German emperor. In
deed, he was more familiar with many
Of our problems than many of our
cOuntrymen, nd he frequently reveal
WI ~ III IL liz 1oilPC VI ouI SoDFClN
satiOns how thoroughly posted he was
on American conditions.
Long before the subject of forest
conservation was taken up seriously in
this country. the kaiser pointed out to
me what a great mistake we were
making In not devoting more atten-
ton to 1t.
Gan you tell me, Davis, why you
have so many forest fires in your
try?" he asked, after a particularly
destructive confiagration in the West
had destroyed many acres OF timber.
"How does 1t happenT
l explained to him that most OF the
forest fires came from sparks from
locomotives. Careless lumbermen al
lowed the branches which they Topped
off the trees to remain on the ground
and when they were ignited by sparks
the fire sometimes spread to the uncut
timber. AS the facilities for extin-
gushing fire In these unpopulated re-
giOns were practically nil and the eli
mate made the timber particularly in
flammable, these fires usually attained
serious dimensions.
"That points out again the inefh-
cheney of your form of government" he
commented. "You have laws requiring
the railways to use appliances to ar
rest the sparks from their engines,
haven't your Why don't you enforce
them? Your people don't seem t.
realize that it takes years to grow a
tree. Because you have more than YOU
need todty y, you make no preparation
for tomorrow. For every tree cut
down another should be planted. If
you don't adopt some such measure the
time will surely come when America
will have to turn to Germany for tim.
ber."
The kaiser was a harsh critic of our
election system. The idea of a four
year term for the president was nat
urally 'epugnant to one who held such
exalted notions as to the rights of
rulers. 1t would be too much to ex-
pect the HohenZollern mind to approve
Of a constitution which provided for
the rulers return to private life after
q period of four years at the head of
the government.
He declared that with a constant
change of administration it was quite
out Of the question for this country
to follow any definite policy. 1t was
bad enough even so far as internal
affairs were concerned, he said, but
such a system made it impossible he
thought for America ever to take q
prominent place in international poll.
tics.
you can't expect the nations of the
worlO to deal with America as they
deal among themselves when the next
change Of administration may mean
the adoption of an entirely new foreign
policy" he declared. There can be
nothing stable about the foreign policy
of a nation whose leaders change every
four years."
american party politics were a con-
slant source of embarrassment to the
kaiser. He always seemed undecided
as to just how ne should receive an
American Of prominence. II he hap
pened to be of the same political faith
as the administration, the kaiser was
afraid to do him too much honor for
fear Of offending the opposing party,
who might win the next election; and
If he were not of the same party as
the administration. the kaiser feared
to honor him lest more immediate re-
sentiment be stirred up in America.
Thus ne refused to receive Bryan on
two different occasions when q Repub-
lican administration was in power.
He criticized very strongly. too, u
erection methods.
Instead Of discussing principles,
your political candidates exchange per-
sonalities," he said. my people would
be shocked at the sort Of speeches and
accusations which figure in all your
political campaigns. Over here. moth.
ing Of the kind Is ever heard"
The kaiser was very much interested
In our negro problem. 1t seemed to
have a great fascination for him, and
he frequently referred to It. He told
me that ne understood there were