Evening star., 1918-04-02
GERMAN ALLIANCE
HEARD IN NDEFENSE
Allegheny County, Pa, Mem
bers Explain Objectionable
Minutes of Their Meetings.
CHARTER REVOKING LIKELY

Members Of the Allegheny county,
Pa. German-American Alliance appear
ing Yesterday afternoon before the
Senate judiciary subcommittee in
charge of the King bill to revoke the
federal charter of the National Ger
man-American Alliance. attempted to
explain excerpts from the minutes OF
) the county alliance which showed the
Organization engaged in party politics.
and also cast doubt upon the loyalty
Of its members to the United States
Reinard Ullrich, president of the county
alliance: August Bucholz, secretary,
and George ]. +. Falkenstein ana
Christopher Saam. members Of the
legislative committee. were put on the
stand
They were questioned closely about
the activities of the alliance In the
election for mayor of Pittsburgh last
fall. and of other city and county Of
flcers. 1t was freely admitted that the
alliance had a ticket. on which was
Mayor Babcock. republican. This ticket
was sent to the 135 German societies
which are constituent members Of the
county alliance with the request that
AL the members support the candidates.
The bill for this ticket was paid. the
witnesses declared. by the Babcock
campaign committee. and not by the
alliance.
Urged Clannish Vote.
A bulletin drafted by the alliances
legislative committee stated that il
al the members voted together the
s'.muckertum" and German haters'
would be defeated.
{. President ullrich. asked by Senator
sWolcott OF Delaware what these phrases
meant, declared that 'muckers'' In Ger
man meant hypocrites.
IT'S like a man who appears to be
prohibitionist. but has his cellar full Of
4quor." he said. He insisted that the
phrase German haters" was a poor
translation Of the German. which referred
only to persons who objected to anything
German
S Mr.. Falkenstein. chairman of the leg
tDlative committee. in reply to question
in by the legislative committee to candi-
4atee Tor office iD the city and county, re-
<erred to in the bulletin, declared that 1t
merely meant that the best men. with
Droadest views relating to municipal gov
ernment, were selected to go on the ticket
~ the committee.
Test Not Of Sympathies.
Did 1t mean that You tested them by
neir sympathies for Germany In this
var? demanded Senator Walcott.
.Ansolutsay no." was the reply. He
&dmftfed that the question Of prohibi-
e!on played large part in their selec-
z&1on. however. Mr.. Falkenstein. pressed
~ the committee, admitted that the use
~ German haters" in the bulletin had
<1een "a little radical and rather raw"
He said that II did not have reference to
ne war situation, though he admitted
$uat ITS use might tend to make the
4erman American element and the
american element hate each other.
= a contribution to the Swiss Red Cross
~ $50 by the county alliance was
yFought up. The witness, Mr.. Ullrich
neasted 1t was not made to aid the Ger
4nans. but that the Swiss Red Cross
@ered Tor the wounded of all nationali-
- The contribution was made about
- time this country went into the war.
= Why didn't you contribute this money
recf to the American Red Cross" asked
enator Sterling.
We did contribute to the American
ed Cross replied Mr. Ullrich. Il con-
1eyself."
Bond Buying "a Necessity"
Another matter called up was an as
Euon In the minutes Of the alliance
"a as a matter Of necessity" it had
Nofed to use 81. 900 Of its memorial fund
4qr the purchase of liberty bonds after
letser had been received from Secre-
~ AcAdoo urging all persons to sub
s Mr. Saam said that he had made the
notion for the expenditure of the
loney and that he had said the alIi-
nee should subscribe -as a matter OF
Nuty to the country. Bucholz, the
tc.edary. who wrote UP the minutes,
'Npholding this government.
Other Side Of Ledger.
Statements were filed by the wit
:1esBes showing that members of fiftv
stWo OF the. German-American societies
k9cnnected with the alliance had sub
eeribed $223, 500 to the second iiberty
loan. and that 332 Of their young men
nd either enlisted or been drafted into
S&he american. Army and Navy.
1his was probably the last hearing
Snlch VIII be given on the King bill.
me subcommittee. 1t Is expected. will
2eeduy report to the full Committees
that It favors the repeal of the federal