Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
THE LOYALTY TEST
tFrom Wednesdays Daily

The returns from yesterdays cleo
tons In Wisconsin and Chicago prove
that Americanism is q very virile
quantity in spite of the menace of so
cialism-or, possibly, because OF It
and that In any community except WIS
consin's proc German strongholds there
ia q distinct determination on the part
of the majority of the people to pre-
serve and perpetuate American insti.
buttons against the assaults OF social
ism. anarchy and Hohenzollernism.
Milwaukee and the German counties
in Wisconsin ran true to form. As the
Associated Press correspondent puts
It. the anti-American elements there
voted straight Hohenzollern," but
that was expected and discounted. so
cialism. La Follettism and Prussian-
ism have fastened their talons In Wis
consin so strongly that there was rea-
aon to fear they would bring about
the election OF Victor Berger to the
United states senate, than which there
could have been no worse calamity In
yesterdays returns.
But. fortunately for Wisconsin and
the United States-fortunately. too,
for the misguided thousands who vot-
ed for Berger-Wisconsin is about
rs per cent loyal. The combined vote
of Lenroot and Davies Is about three
times as great as that cast for Ber'
ger, and can be counted as pro-Amesi.
can. The remaining Is per cent ~
Wisconsin's electorate registered It's
fealty to the kaiser In the voting yes
terday Just as distinctly and unequiv'
ocally as II his name had been on the
ballot instead Of Berger's.
Now that 1t is over. 1t Is good to re-
alize that the socialists made their
fight openly for Germany, because
they were whipped. But 1t Is q DIS
grace to Wisconsin which that state
viii be long in wiping out. that their
defeat was not assured before tho urst
vote was cast. a.
As to Milwaukee. that city bases its
hope for return to responsibility on
the fact that its really loyal people
have shown their loyalty on every
occasion. That they are in the minor
ity is shown by the vote Mayor Hoan
received as a candidate for reelection.
His espousal Of the socialists st.
Louis platform was sufficient testi.
mony az to his lack Of Amercanism.
The issue was drawn distinctly and
every man who voted for Hoan real
lied ne was voting disapproval of the
course the United States has followed
since April 6, 1917. That he was
elected by q large majority Is a start
ling thing. but the very fact that 1t
does startle America Is a good, sign.
for It indicates that Milwaukee Is the
only large city N the country where
LOYALTY has ebbed so low among the
majority Of the voters.
There is Just hint that prejudice
and the bitter local political night on
Hoan may have something to do with
his big vote, in the fact that several
'socialistic candidates for aldermanic
offices were defeated IN the same cleo
ton which resulted In Hoan's victory.
Still, the figures speak for them
selyes. and there is little that can be
said In apology for Milwaukee's pro-
German showing.
Chicago's socialists we're defeated
en- masse, along with the supporters
of "Burgomaster' Thompson. whose
kctowing to Germany and the paci-
fists stirred Chicago, months ago. to
a brave and convincing show OF her
deep-rooted loyalty.
With the single exception Of Mil.
waukee's Hoan vote, then. socialism
and Prussianism stand defeated in de-
cisive tests. The fight they made Is
a solemn warning to loyal Americans
that socialism In other communities
must be recognized a. pro-Germanism,
and, as such, permitted no opportunity
to become factor in elections. No
matter what its assumed name nor Its
professed aims, socialism is socialism
the world over. And socialism IN
America has endorsed and assisted
bolshevism In Russia, which. in turn.
has betrayed America and our allies
and ruined Russia's efforts to raise q
republican form OF government from
the ashes Of the Romanon dynasty.
To tolerate socialism is only one de-
gress less unpatriotic than to embrace
It. This is fact which byal Ameri.
cans must get fixed firmly in their
minds II American Institutions Are "a
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