Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-10-25
en- short of his expectations:

Inc KAISER cOulun understand why
the United States did not seize both
Canada and MEXICO. Apparently, from
the way he talked from time to time,
if he had been sitting in the White
House he would have grabbed the en-
tire Western Hemisphere.
That the kaiser followed American
politics very closely, especially after
the war broke out, was very, natural.
The fact that there was great Ger
man-American vote in this country
was not overlooked in Potsdam, and I
haven't the slightest doubt the kaiser
imagined that he could exert consider
able influence in our elections through
his emissaries in this country.
Ifeturned to Berlin late in October
of that year. Within a day or two
after my arrival received a telephone
message from the Reichskanzler Won
Bethmann-Hollweg to the effect that
the kaiser had sent him word Of my
return and that he would like me to
call at his palace either that noon or
at four p. m.
was ushered into q very large room
In the corner of which was business
like looking flat-topped desk. but which
was otherwise deliberately furnished.
The reichskanzler, tall, br0ad-shOul-
dered, handsome specimen Of man,
came over to me and, putting his arm
in mine, walked me to seat beside
the desk. He asked me what would
smoke, and upon my taking cigar:
cite, he did likewise. Il
''The kaiser's been telling me, doc
tor" he said, 'of your recent visit to
America. and would like to ask you
q few questions" b :
4 said that I was always glad to talk
Of America. Indeed, was particular
" glad of the opportunity to speak
with the prime minister Of Germany at
that time.
Then followed a bewildering success
sion of questions, the purpose Of
which was not at all clear to me. We
had a peculiar conversation-half In
German, half in English. The reichs.
kanzler did not speak English partic-
ularly well.
slow are things in America" he
asked. did you have any opportu-
nifty to gauge the political situation?
Who do you think will be the next
president? Do you think that Ameri-
cans are opposed to peace because
that would end their chance to make
money out of the war? Are your
people so mercenary that they would
like to see the war prolonged for the
sake of the money they can make out
Of it,"
"No. your excellency," I replied,
'.you are quite wrong if you imagine
that my countrymen would like to pro-
long the war for the sake of war
profits. That is very far from being
the case. On the contrary, the coun-
try at large is anxious for peace"
"Don't forget your people are max
ing lot Of money out of this war"
the reichskanzler persisted. 'They
are becoming very rich. They will
soon have all the gold in the world.
Putting an end to the war would to q
great extent end American opportuni-
ties for making money on this enor-
nous scale.'
"That may be all true" replied.
''but fortunately my countrymen think
more of the blessings Of peace and
liberty than they do of war and profits,
and the sooner peace can be brought
about on basis which will have
some assurance Of permanency the bet.
ter we will like it." r. sc
"Wilson has the greatest opportu.
nifty ever presented to man to make
his name Immortality bringing about
peace In the world" he went on. 1--WE
feel now that he is not our friend, but
friendly to the allies, but nevertheless
he may be able to see that If this war
is prolonged indefinitely it will mean
the destruction of all the nations in
volved in it. Do you think there is
any possibility Of America entering
the WARP a.
"That, of course, will depend, your
excellency," answered, "upon devel-
opments. I don't believe my country
is anxious to fight, but I'm quite sure
that nothing in the world will keep us
out Of 1t If our rights as a neutral
nation are not respected"
1--WE certainly don't like the way
Hughes has been talking on the
stump" declared the reichskanzler.
did you hear any of his speeches or
any Of Wilson's?"
said I had had no opportunity to
hear any of the campaign speeches.
but that had followed them in the
newspapers. .
swell, did you gather from what
you read that the American people
want to see peace in Europe or do
they want the war to 60 on so they
can continue to make fortunes out
of it?'' $50. ...Es -
Again I replied that I was certain
our country would never be Influenced
by such sordid considerations as were
implied in the reichskanzler's question,
but that If the right kind Of peace
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