The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-09-12

Then l commenced active preparations
to dispose Of my German practice and
return home.
My second reason for wanting to get
out of Germany as soon as possible
was the fact that food conditions in
Germany were becoming more pre-.
carious every Cay. My wife and
feared that our child. who was two
years old, might suffer from lack OF
proper nourishment IL we remained
and l determined that no matter how
long 1t might be necessary for me 10
remain In Berlin, my wife and child
at any rate should leave at the earliest
possible moment.
My third reason, however, was by
far the most insistent Of all.
/ had become convinced that what
knew Of the kaiser and his plans, now
that we were at war, ought to be com
municated to America without delay
and that the only way to Go that ade-
luately would be to get horoe as soon
as / possibly could, no matter what
personal sacrifice might be involved in
abandoning my European practice and
interests.
1t Is true that In the early years of
my relationship with the kaiser our
conversations naturally embraced only
the most general of subjects, but In
later years, when he came to know me
better, he cast aside all reserve and
talked to me on whatever was upper
most in his mind at the time. After
the war started that, Of course, formed
the principal subject of our discus
sions and the part that America was
playing in the conflict was frequently
brought up because Of the fact that I
was an American.
One memorable interview l had had
with him influenced me perhaps more
than any other single factor to hasten
the settlement Of my European affairs
and return home.
1t was in the fall Of 1916. The kali
ser had come to me for professional
attention, and after my work was COM
pleted he remained TO discuss some
~ NhAt dNI'ttN vi w w II. l. tlliupS lflt
fact that | had just returned from a
visit to America made him more than
usually eager for a chat with me.
We had discussed various phases Of
the war, when the kaiser changed the
subject abruptly with the question:
Davis, what's the matter with your
country"
an what respect, your majesty" I
asked.
"Why Is it that your country is so
unfair to Germany? Why do you per-
sist in supplying munitions and money
to the allies? Why doesn't your pres
ident treat the European warning ma.
lions the same as he treated Mexico
by putting an embargo on munitions
and letting us fight this thing out our
selves? You do not ship munitions to
us, why do you ship them to the other
side?"
vas on such terms with the kaiser
that l did not hesitate to answer his
question with another.
II have always understood, your
majesty, that during the Russian-Jap'
anese war, Germany continually sup
piled munitions to Russia. Why vas
that any more justifiable than America
supplying munitions to the allies!
Then again, in the Spanish-American
-"
Davis, you surprise mel" the kai.
ser interrupted, rising from the oper'
ating chair. in which he had remained
walking towards me, throwing back
his shoulders and rising to his full
height. "The cases are entirely differ
ent. When we helped Russia against
Japan we were helping a white race
against a yellow race, don't ever for
get t~hat-don't ever forget that. But
with America, that Is certainly not the
case. Your country Is acting from
purely mercenary motives. 1t is 9
case of dollars, dollars, dollars !"-anG
each time he repeated the word hi
struck his partially helpless left hand
violently with his powerful right
america values dollars more than she
values German lives! She thinks Il
right to shoot down my people"
He had worked himself up to a de
gree of indignation which l had seer
him display only on two or three pre-
vious occasions, and I must confess
was reluctant to start a fresh outburs
by answering his arguments. Hi
eyes, usually soft and kindly. flashes
fire as he advanced towards me ant
slowly and incisively declared: Davis
America - must - be - punished -
for-her-actions!
In that expression, which he repeat
ed On subsequent occasions in pre-
cisely the same words and with tn
same measured emphasis, l knew tina
he revealed mostly clearly what his at
titude was and will ever be towar'
this country.
(To be continued)
NV c -