The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-12-26

| world to deal with America as they
deal among themselves when the next
change of administration may mean
the adoption OF all 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 con-
! slant source of embarrassment to the
kaiser He always seemed undecided
as to just how he should receive an
American of prominence. If he hap
pened to be of the same political faith
rs 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 he refused to receive Bryan OIL
two different occasions when a Repub-
lican administration was in power.
He criticized very strongly, too. our
election methods.
Instead of discussing principles,
your political candidates exchange per-
sonalities,'' ne 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 he understood there were
| 100000 negroes in this country, but
. they were dying off in great numbers
through consumption and other dis
eases to which they offered but poor
resistance.
1.-THE negro will always be a great
problem in your country, however" he
added. '"They don't mix socially with
the whites, and there will be constant
!. friction. My brother (Prince Henry
when he returned from his visit to
; America, told me a lot about these
, negroes. Indeed, one of the most i'm
pressive things he heard there was a
choir of negro voices. He said they
sang some wonderful melodies, and
their voices were as clear as bells"
After the war started, the kaiser
! referred to the negroes again. 'Now
is your chance to settle your negro
! problem" he declared, half facetiously,
of course. 'If America insists upon
coming into the war, why doesn't she
send her negroes across and let us
shoot them DOWN."
When a fleet of our battleships Wis
tied Kiel some six years ago the kaiser
paid them a visit and was very much
interested. When he called to see me
shortly afterward he told me of his
experience.
81 went over the ships from top to
bottom he declared. 'They are ex-
ceIlent vessels, every one of them. and
, I was very much impressed with the
. way they are manned and Differed. l
have only one criticism-the lattice
work coming towers, or fighting
masts. The only possible use 1 can
see in them would be to train vines on
, them and install an elevator inside,
and serve tea in the afternoon to the
| ladies on tOp-the most beautiful place
: for serving afternoon tea I can imag-
inc.
But, seriously speaking" he went
: on, 81 can't see that these masts have
any practical value. On the contrary
: 1 can see very serious disadvantages
5 in them. No matter what nation you
might be fighting, your enemy would
t always be able to recognize you at a
\ distance, before you could identify
D him, because the warships of all other
e nations look very much alike at q dis
: | lance.
''They say these coming towers are
D armed" he went on, "but you would
: never get close enough to your enemy
y to use such small guns. Again, If one
t of those masts were hit it would send
:. shower of steel about the heads OF
the men On board, and would not only
e put many of them out of action. bu
n would be iR the way. Suppose, too
+ the mast were struck down and huns
d over the side? 1t would drag through
Il the water. and would not only serious
8 ~ impede the vessel, but it woult
# cause the ship to. list and expose 1
J. larger area on one side than would b.
! safe. No, Davis. your fighting masts
i as have said, might answer first-rat'
i for serving tea. but I don't think mucl
d of them for active service"
But If the kaiser saw much Il
: American ways and customs to con
% denim, he likewise saw much to com
o mend, and, before the war, he wa
:. liberal in his praise of many of on
9 qualities and achievements.
% He was very much interested, TO
% instance, in the experiments and dis
a coveries Of Luther Burbank. To max
N Germany self-suppOrting as far a
N food resources were concerned was on
If of his dearest ambitions. He realize
If that in the event of world war hi
10 people would probably suffer NOR
a from lack of food than they woul
D. from hostile bullets, and he was hopin
that he would be able to obviate tha
Ir condition before his country was pU
r to the test. He was constantly preacl
+ ing simplified diet and the conserve
h ton of food reserves, and he had gres
of hopes that much could be done in
X scientific way to help solve geners
We food problems. When attending dill
or ners given him by his officers, b
er wishes respecting simple menus WEI
of always carefully followed.
The kaiser eni0ved American hi