The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-02-14
PROVES WISCONSIN LOYALTY
Citing Statistics Racine Lawyer Vim
dicates Badger Patriotism Shows
Growth of ''Blacz Prussia
1.-THE Whole Truth

Tearing off the yamouhage and for
getting the fireworks, Martin Gillen of
| Racine, gave a man-to-man, business
like, but ultra patriotic address before
the members of st. Matthew's Men s
| Club gathered at Guild Hall on Tues
day evening, The speech was a nota
BILE contribution to the wartime ora
tory of Kenosha. 1t dealt with topics
already reviewed by previous speakers
in various gatherings, but from al an
gle SO different as to make the whole
discussion fresh and inspiring.
Mr.. Gillen gave especial attention to
the problem of German mericanism
Asserting that Wisconsin had been
grossly maligned in all parts Of the
| United States because of it's misrepre
sentation by Robert LaFollette, he
| presented irrefutable proof of loyalty
for both the state and its German
American citizens.
Quoting statistics for every state
ment Mr.. Gillen showed that Wisconsin
| had been among the most active and
successful states in the Union in the
| exploitation and accomplishment of
every form Of war-work. He emphasiz-
ed its victories in the various Liberty
Loans, its conspicuous support of the
Red Cross Association and its superb
| efficiency in formulating working
methods for war-work such as the Win
nebago Plan for subscription to the
Liberty Loan, the Milwaukee Plan
for the promotion of thrift and
the Kenosha Plan for a war-chest
or patriots fund.
ttAnd YETI he declared dramatical-
ly, "this state which has given the
country so many 3oldiers, so many
plans to support and protect them, and
so many advisers to send them on to
victory, has no representation in the
! United States Senate. Robert LaFol-
lette does not represent Wisconsin and
to date Governor Philip has given us
no rtunity to elect a man who - -
Having indicated the state from the
charges of disloyalty falsely hurled
against it by misinformed men in Mas
sachusetts, New York, and Pennsyl-
vania, Mr.. Gillen proceeded to unmask
Prussianism, the system which has
made Germany the most powerful and
the most hated nation in Europe and
the system that will eventually bring
her to ruin unless it is so modified, so
purified, and so democratized as to
purge it of its original sin. With con-
slant reference to map he showed
the formation of the German empire
from the mark of Brandenburg in ac-
cordance with the policy of "blood
and iron' always practiced by the
Hohenzollerns, but first so called
/ by their most famous adviser, Otto
Won Bismarck.
"Prussian peoples have always been
divided into two general classes,
said Mr.. Gillen, q the junkers and their
underlings, the boot-lickers in times
of peace and on-fodder in times
of war. The junkers lave favored the
government because it made possible
| their domination. The boot-lickers
have tolerated it because all uprisings
have been suppressed with Prussian
brutality and Prussian ruthlessness. -
The strongest point made by Mr.
Gillen was the fact that German
Americans came largely from pro-
vinces t. at had been the victims of
Prussian "iron and blood" and from
forebears who were essentially anti
Prussian. Consequently the present
fight against Prussianism was fight
over the same issues that had driven
their fathers to America and against
the same system which had truth
Iessly'' crushed their original father
lands, Westphalia, Bavaria, schleswig,
and Poland.
From time to time, " he continued
e the boot -lickers have risen against
the iunkers and tried to throw off the
yoke of Prussian overfordship. Ia 1913
they were almost successful but the
victorious wars of "a, '66, and 10,
re-established the milltarists in pop
ular favor and effectively checked
further progress toward democracy
and freedom"
| Further facts from Mr.. Gillen IS ad-
dress may be found on page 3
of this issue of the Evening News
under the aupEaRrite eansiem ssFhe
EsFhele> F4th4s'