The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-05-02
INCIDENT IS CLOSED
DETAILS or THe EXCITEMENT
IN PEORIA locALiTY

tOccastOnea IN the northwest corner oil
1.-THE county, at Peoria and reaching ov
er into and about New sharon. Taintoi
and even TO Searsboro IN poweshieb
county on account OF the Rev. ]. j
Wiersing AFFAIR Wiersing was arrest
ed by the United States Secret Ser
vice Agent and taken to Ottumwa for
arrangement Tuesday last. He was
held to federal court Investigation in
a strong bond and was allowed his
freedom only upon condition that he
would not return to the community
where he has caused trouble He was
held under the espionage act.
Just what Rev. Wiersing has or has
not done does not appear on the ser
vice but he had succeeded in antago
MIXING the entire American population
in the Peoria nelghborhood and ad
jaceht communities, Evidence was
Forthcoming that the Holland popula
ton at the head Of which Rev. Wier
sing stood, was greatly influenced by
him and when this ran counter to the
efforts OF the American soliciting lib
erty bond sales trouble was started.
I A meeting was called In New Sharon
for the purpose Of organizing visiting
commitee or party to visit Peoria and
take the matter in their own hands
outside OF any possible procedure OF
liaw. This meeting was stopped when
word went out that Rev Wiersing had
been arrested and taken to Ottumwa
and was in the hands of the govern
Iment.
4 Another thing that was bone OF
contention was a parochial school, OPP
Grated In Peoria. Rumor enormously
stated that the school was being
taught in the Holland tongue, This
school has been Under investigation
and the claims made In rumor cannot
be verified in fact the @chool has
been taught In English with the pos
sible exception OF the repetition of a
catechism in the Holland or Dutch
| (not Germany language, once each
week.
Rumor spread about the Peoria
lneighborhood that mob Of Ave hun
Idred people from New Sharon, Sears
boro and other plates was coming to
burn the school and church property
and TO do other violence.
| Some of the people were so terrified
that they fled from their homes and
property and sought refuge at Pella
and Des Moines. A couple of car loads
went to- Des Moines TO make a direct
and personal appeal TO, Governor Hard
ing who gave assurances that the,
[sbould have projections for Themselves
land their property and the Govern
metit Immediately got busy with the
wires to investigate. Such q thing as
this is so foreign to the usual faultlesS
conduct of Mahaska county citizens
that the executive thought there mus
be some mistake somewhere.
The school has been closed how
ever and the instructors or those II
charge have left the place and not like
ly to return as they fear for their per
sonal safety. -E
r
torney James A. Dewitt have bad thu
matter in charge since last Tuesday
when the arrest of Rev. Wiersing oc
Cured They have been at New Sharon
and at Peoria and other places in tbs
effort to set things right. .a..s,.
While Rev. Wiersing in his worl
j among his people may have advised
wrongly 1t Is possible to see what hi
/, intention was, to save his people, ex
J pense and lives and suffering, In wha
crar way they might. The Hollanderi
B, have helped Red Cross aud Y. M. Z. A
] but the giving Of money that was Il
go toward the killing of men, Rev
{ Wiersing said was contrary to tn,
! tenetB OF their religion and Their
came the stumbling blocks This minis
ter has been the storm center Of mort
or less agitation since the first liber
ty loan last season and the loya
Americans of the community have be
come incensed at the manner In which
the people in this particular churcl
took refuge. In the last liberty loaf
: however these people, almost withou
exception subscribed for the bond
and every member Of the church Is
3 bond owner
Weather Sunday evening preyentet
I Mr.. Dewitt and Mr. Rosecrans from ad
dressing meeting Of the Holland pee
: pie at Peoria.
, Governor Harding and local authOri
! ties have given assurance that no vii
!. ful destruction of property will oecu
: that in fact none has been conten
plated and those who have fed shout
+, return to their homes as they will sui
4 fer no personal violence.
Rev. Wiersing has been advised no
3 Ito return and the incident IL nrobabl
. closed,