American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-15

to dispose Of my German practice and
return home.
My second reason for wanting to get
out Of Germany as 500 as possible
was the fact that food conditions in
Germany were becoming more pre-
cariOus every cay. My wife and l
feared that our child, who was two
years old, might suffer from lack Of
proper nourishment if we remained
and l determined that no matter how
long 1t might be necessary for me to
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.
l had become convinced that what l
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 do that ade-
quately would be to get home as soon
as l 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 vas frequently
brought up because Of the fact that 1
was an American.
One memorable interview I had had
with him Influenced ms perhaps more
than any other single factor to hasten
the settlement of my European affairs
and return home.
1t was in the fall Of 1915. The kali
ser had come to me for professional
attention, and after my work was COM
pleted he remained to discuss some
Of the aspects of the war. Perhaps the
fact that l 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"
I'm what respect, your majestyY 1
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
tons 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
slider"
l was on such terms with the kaiser
that 1 did not hesitate to answer his
question with another.
81 have always understood, your
majesty, that during the Russian-Jap.
anese war, Germany continually sup
piled munitions to Russia. Why was
that any more justifable than America
supplying munitions to the allies7
Then again, in the Spanish-American
-"
Davis, you surprise me !" the kali
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 that-dOn't ever forget that. But
with America, that is certainly not the
case. Your country is acting from
purely mercenary motives. 1t is a
case of dollars, dollars, dollars and
each time he repeated the word he
struck his partially helpless left hand
violently with his powerful right.
america values dollars more than she
values German livesl She thinks il
right to shoot down my people
He had worked himself up to a de-
gree Of indignation which 1 had seen
him display only on two or three pre-
viOus occasions, and l must confess
was reluctant to start a fresh Outburst
by answering his arguments. Hi:
eyes, usually soft and :aindly, flashed
fire as he advanced towards me anC
slowly and ineisively 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 thu
same measured emphasis, l knew tina
he revealed mostly clearly what his at
: titude was and will ever be tOwar'
this country.