The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-29
CROWDS LISTEN TO
LIBERTY DAY TALK
AT HIGH SCHOOL GYM
Prof. Scott II. Goodnight the Speaker
and Jefferson Heath Presides At
the Big Meeting Friday
Night.

L
dean OF men at the University of Wis
consin, delivered the-address, Prior tt
the meeting the Northwestern college
band and the Wisconsin Nationa
Guard Reserve marched through the
streets to the meeting place. The
meeting was opened with the singing
| of America" and closed with the rem
dition of the "Star Spangled Banner
president Wilson set aside this day
as Liberty Day. 1t was in his minC
that these gatherings were to add inn
petus to the Liberty Loan drive, but
| we here in Watertown need no impetus
for we are over the top by more than
twice our assigned quota" Mr. Heath
said. He also in behalf of G. r. 'Acker
director Of sales, thanked the ward
captains, lieutenants and those who
assisted, and Watertown people who
responded so nobly.
Prof. GOOdnight's Address.
When war was declared we paid
but little attention, as we thought that
it was one of the dark war clouds for
ever rising and dispersed by the morn
ing breezes. But when we saw seven
nations locked in death grapple we
stood aghast and asked ourselves who
had caused this terrible thing, who
was responsible and we stood alone
against the acrimonious things said by
both sides-until we personally chose
sides, not from things we had heard
II
Prof. Goodnight.
The speaker then stated that he,
having attended the University of Ger
many for two years and had studied
the literature of that country for
twenty years, was with Germany and
that it had been a bitter awakening
when through the gross acts of the
autocratic government he had to put
the saddle on the other horse
I'VE said it was a mercantile war
and believed that Germany was not the
aggressor and that she was fighting
for self defence. We quite did not like
the invasion of Belgium. 1t looked like
a raw deal and not a sportsmanlike
proposition. Friends, three and three
quarters years have elapsed since
then. We have been obliged to change
sides. 1t has been bitter and hard
| thing to do the speaker declared.
1.-THE German government is wrong
but have not lost faith in the German
people," he said.
The speaker then told in a clear
concise manner the world dream OF
conquest of Germany in 1895 when q
map was published in the Atlantic
Monthly showing the proposed con.
troll of territory by Germany in 1915
The prophecy turned out to be true
He told of the German Reichstag ap
preparation in 1913, the purchasing o.
munitions and all articles necessary
to conduct war. He cited Herr Bangen
helm, German ambassador to Turkey
as having stated that war would bt
declared between Austria Hungary anC
Serbia with the murder of the crown
prince as a pretext, long before wal
was declared. He told of the meeting
ers and other industrial leaders wht
were asked if they were prepared fol
war. With the exception of banker!
who asked for twelve days in which
to nquidate foreign investmants,- al
answered in-tfre negative. During
the twelve days prior to the declara
ton of war the stock exchange wa!
in a turmoil. Union Pacific dropped
from $50 to 120 on the board and in
dustrial experts could not accoun
for it until after war had been de
clared when it was readily seen tina
the bankers had sold all American
securities to get gold to carry on tn,
war.
He touched on the munition selling
to our allies and stated that German.
never opposed it. For 125 years tn
United States advocated the right tt
buy guns of neutral nations in time
Of war. Secretary Lansing in answer
ing the Central powers on this point
declared ''This right we ourselves
have and cannot be denied Others"
In reference to the submarine pol
icy the speaker cited three rules gov
erning a blockade:
l. The blockade must be properl,
announced so that neutral nation!
may prepare.
g. Blockade must be effective to g
per cent and must stop all traffic.
8. Carried on by legitimate means
that is, if a war vessel under necessi
ty sinks merchant vessel tn
safety of those on board must b
looked after.
The English blockade was 81 pc
cent effective. The German submarin
blockade was 2 per cent effective
The final blow to America was whe
Kaiser Bill said to Uncle Sammy
ION one day week, Uncle Sam, 20
can go to Europe, on a vessel, lookin
like barber pole, and down Gel
. tain path
Uncle Sans reply: con seven day
a week, Kaiser Bill, you can go
hell
He came out strongly in defense {
President Wilson, as having kept U
out Of war as long as possible withol
. loss of honor.
president Wilson has redeeme
! his worth and he is worthy of the al
solute loyalty of every citizen through
: out the length and breadth of tt
land" said the sneaker