New-York tribune., 1918-02-26

phonsc G; Koelhle, honorary president
OF the German-American Alliance of
the State of New York, and the man
who was exposed in March, 1916. as the
guiding genius Of the pro- German
lobby at that time being waged in
Washington
IF the object of these charges is to
show that | am anti-Brtish." declared
Mr.. koelblc, "thc government doesn't
need to 90 in the least way out of its
way to substantiate them. 1t can get
all the proof it wants on that score di-
rectly from me. I'm as anti-British as
they make 'em. | always was, and ]
still am. | was brought up to be. Pm
an American born citizen, and when
went to school | was taught
about the War of the Revolution and
the War of 1912. As | grew up and
looked about, | saw that wherever Eng
land secured foothold blight was
cast upon the people Of that land from
the standpoint of their own nationality.
As an American citizen, | don't want to
see anything like that happen to this
country.
Admits Lobby
That this was the point of view which
throughout has directed his attitude
toward the war Mr.. Koelble was proud
to admit. He was also ready to accept
full responsibility for his share in the
lobbying campaigns carried on in the
effort to impose an embargo on the
export Of munitions.
"Why not ?' he asked. "Up to the
moment OF our entry into the war po-
perfectly permissible. And what is
more, that agitation would have been
successfully would have prevented
our entry-if it hadn't been for the
German delegates that were sent over
here. Those delegates put the stamp
Of -Germanism on what we were
doing. People are charging now that
we got our orders from Willie elmstrasse.
We'll, You can take it from me that if
Wilhelmstrasse hadn't interfered and
sent its agents over here, things would
be very different inthis country to-
day"
On Saturday. Mr. Koelble stated, he
intends to go to Washington and volun-
tcer to testify before the Senate Com
mittee on behalf of the German-Ameri-
can Alliance; and it is on this basis
that an anti-British attitude is not
necessarily a pro- German one and that
it is, in fact. ultra Am ericah-that he
purposes to take his stand and demand
showdown.
With toss of the head and an i'm
that the alliance uses its 100000 mem
bcrship to foist unwelcome bills on this
country and intimidate legislators.
I'VE are not partisan political
BODY he insisted. "Whatever interest
we take in politics is not as an organi-
zation. but simply as good American
citizens. who ought after all. to in
terest themselves in all public matters"
With similar words he explains the
I A
ment of foreign language press in
this country and its nationwide cam
paign for extensive teaching of Ger
man in the public schools, u campaign
which Gustavus Ohlinger recently testi-
fled was tho root and means of impror-
mating this nation with Germanic
ideals.
"That is not Gcrmanism; it is Amer
icansm," protested Mr. Koelble "No
matter what the German government
may be, the German people are a
thrifty, honest people, with splendid
ideals. The inculcation of these ideals
worked for the betterment of our coun-
try. If you don't believe it, just look
up the records of German Americans.
And they have papers in their own lam
guage to inform them of what's really
going on
Henry Wcismann. president of the
New York State German American Al
liance. was all for peace and quiet yes
tcrday, and strongly deprecated any
seizure OF the society's Documents
Might Stir Up Rancor
"It would be the height of unwis-
dom" he said, tor the government to
make any such move. We are a thor
oughly loyal body, but to make any
such Girecu attack on US could hardly
fail TO stir up resentment and rancor
against the government that might
seriously interfere with shat inner har-
mcny which we all so ardently desire
TO preserve here. If wise counsel pre-
vai.s no such action will be taken"
Cn the other hand, Mr.. Weismann,
who is lawyer. with Offices at Al
Court Street. Brooklyn. said that the
New York State branch of the alliance
would be willing to submit its records
Tor inspection if this is asked OF it,
In view of documents OF the society
which have come to light since the
tart Of tho Senate investigation, it