The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-22
LIVELY MEETING
OMAHA LAWYERS
willam Wappich's Application TOR
membership in Association
Rouses Storm of
Opposition.
SAYS HE IS PATRIOTIC
Former Keokuk Man Accuses His
professional Brethren With
Playing Politics and An
swers Critics.

at stormy meeting Vi ZIG cil"AsI
Bar association in the Commercial
club Saturday. when the name OF
william F. Wappich, an Omaha at
| ,a;,,.y,;.w,as presented S.oE admission
10 membership.
~ would consider 1t reasonable to
vote in favor of admitting to this
organization, representing the law
and social order of this country, a
man who on May IA, 1917. after the
declaration of war with Germany
wrote an article in the public pulse
Of an Omaha paper defending the
German-American alliance and openly
triumphing in the fact that 1t had
forced the school board to adopt the
teaching of German in the public
schools" was the yitriolic objection
offered by H. L. Mossman, when
Wappich's name was proposed
Alliance is Assailed.
Mr.. Mossman accused Wappich of
being a member of the German
American alliance and of publishing
German propaganda after war had
| been declared.
Mr. Wappich. who resides at $40
North Forty-first street, was present.
although not yet a member OF the
association.
'The German-American alliance is
the most insidious and traitorous or
ganization in America today" said
Mr.. Mossman, continuing his indfct-
ment, and until Mr.. Wappich recants
his statement endorsing that organf-
Eation and tells us he is done with
that reasonable machine for one
shall not vote him a member of this
association"
The letter referred 10 was written
by Wappich and appeared in the
Public Pulse" column OF the World
Herald, May IA. 1917.
For Keeping Bars UP.
Are we going to throw down the
bars and admit traitors to our
midst?" asked Attorney Murray.
That nefarious alliance had it's in
eeption in Berlin and its purposes
in this country were reasonable from
top to bottom"
4 did not like Mr.. Wappich's let
ter In the Worid-Heraid and / did not
nke Senator Hitchcock's attitude in
inc senate toward Germany and
toward America and the war, and ]
never have been very we'll satisfied
with the things he publishes in his
paper, observed Judge Shields in
condemnation of too lenient atti-
tude toward the publication of Gre
man propaganda 9
discussion waxed so warm that
ar. Wappieh was given leave to re-
ure while the meeting adjourned for
session of open discussion. He
remained, however, and asked to
make statement.
Says lis Rot.
MI Wappich said that he was a
eiuzen of the United States and
taat ms father was citizen before
uin' He maintained that the letter
lelerred TO made no statement criti.
Using the president or the govern.
ment or any reference to our entry
INTO the war.
inis is all rot" he said II am
Is loyal and patriotic to the United
2 2. as any man under this roof.
.ne was nothing In my letter that
was not loyal TO this country. I have
oousht Liberty bonds. / have sub-
W v.liDea TO the Red Cross and the
,, uuus mems Christian association
aa l served five half-days with
Nv otner attorneys on the legal adj
.'ols BOARD IN the court house. 1t
"a uue we got the school board 70
epl me teaching OF German in the
i I.aoois. This doesn't hurt my feel
a na IN the least, because NV con.
nse IS clear. I am, in fact. in
lenseiy patriotic"
n, AZ me close OF his statement NJ
,"applcn left the room. but refused
bership. Na''on ior MEM
.., Aseribes 1t to Politics.
az, me fact is" he stated Js,ar
c.osshlan was lined I'D with lJudp.
s saesoh tor an appointment as ci1v
r os In 1915 when the Judge ran
,oi CITY commissioner. I WORKED for
~ D,.h,ihan AID the boys up there, and
we peat them out. That's the on1v
Spiahation can see for Mossnan /
a aeag me in this wav r1.s
n,;s the prohibitionists. III, al,
ms mat ! was for the sacred s,a,r
, M mats all there is to Fl 49,. /
30 oa'a word against the goyernmen.
me she president in my life !,
richard L. Metcalfe of the s...o
ulsa ~ OF defense, who was schad.
~ S.ea 70 speak. was i'll and ,,nahIa ~
De present. - anu unable TO
Mr. Wappich.s ann,,o..,
membership was referred N oi
lDnte OF three members who I'm.
investigate the facts "Ao are 70
elected .on was unanimously
year. I pesldent for the coming
Mathews psart, secretary, and a. i
r., austin, Tex.s