New-York tribune., 1918-06-11
10000 Loyal Aliens
Asked to March in
July 4 Parade
Friends of German Democ-
racy Arrange for Repre-
sentation in Celebration

sentation in Celebration
At meeting held last night at the
Union Square Hotel, under the auspices
of the Friends Of German Democracy,
an organization was started for the
purpose of participating in the cele-
bration of July 4 by German-Ameri-
cans. An attempt will be made to rally
to the Stars and Stripes not only
American citizens of German birth and
origin, but also enemy aliens who
did not obtain naturalization certif-
Gates through carelessness or lack of
opportunity, but who are friendly to
the United States and opposed to
Germany. The demonstration will con-
sist of German division in the gen.
eral parade and Of mass meeting in
the evening. Details Of the arrange
ments will be decided on at another
meeting to be held at the end Of this
week.
Few Of the organizations which were
affiliated with the defunct German
American Alliance were present last
night. Only the Schutzenbund and
the New Yorker Maennerchor were rep
resented. On the other hand, represen-
tativcs Of German clubs which never
had belonged to the Alliance, such as
the Liederkranz, sent their representa-
tives. The president of the New York
Arion, Hugo H. Ritterbusch, was pre-
vented from attending, and sent \ let
ter Of regret, declaring that he will
| further the demonstration of loyalty to
| the utmost.
Franz Sigel Chosen President
Franz Sigel, a son of the general Of
Civil War lame, was elected president
of the new organization, and stated
that it was the purpose of the meeting
to show the unity of the different ma
tional groups of which the nation con-
sists.
1t was suggested that at least 1o,-
600 enemy aliens who are not dsloyal
parade on July d, headed by the 400 or
500 who have sons serving with the
American army, carrying service flags
| to show that they preferred to be
counted as friends of America and foes
of Germany.
81 understand" said julius j.
Koettgen, chat the Committee on Pub
lie Information will have photographs
made of the various sections of the
tributed in Europe and reach Ger
many. Such pictures ought to do much
to bring about peace"
"There is only one thing to convince
Americans Of the loyalty Of those of
German stock-to form the lips to the
prayer, ITO hell with the KAISER" said
Julius Heymann, of the National Sc
curity League.
Sigel Makes Statement
Mr.. Sigel, president of the Friends Of
German Democracy, in answer to many
inquiries about the connection his or
ganization has with the National Pa
triotic Council of Americans of German
Origin, gave out the following state
ment:
"Myself and other members Of our
organization were invited some weeks
ago to participate in the new move
ment. | refused for several reasons.
In the first place, did not like the
spirit in which the promoters of the
new movement approached the problem.
Further, | did not wish to be identified
with an organization which would keep
alive that German American segrega-
tion which the Friends of German De-
mocracy is trying to overcome by ad-
! mitting into it's ranks all who are in
sympathy with it's objects, without any
regard to their racial origin. More
over, the names of the persons identi-
fed with the movement inaugurated
man-language press furnish no guar
antee that the defunct GermanAmeri
can Alliance is not to be revived.
"My experience at the meeting called
last Thursday afternoon by the Ger
man-language newspapers confirmed me
in my objections to the project. Before
the assembled leaders of the German
American societies l tried in vain to
have adopted a resolution containing a
conservative statement of Americas
war aims.
Cites Men Behind Movement
"I do not think much good can come
out of an organization fostered by men
like Christian Rebhan and his asso-
ciate, Mr.. Mildenhurg, of the Kaiser's
war veterans, and the Rev. DR.. Jaeger
and the Rev. DR.. Popke.
can interesting feature of the case
is that, whereas the announcement OF
the National Patriotic Council of Amer.
leans of German Origin appeared in
some Of to-day's morning newspapers
only one of the German Language news
papers (the 'HeroldD had short para.
graph on it. which leads the reader tc
believe that the 'Herold' obtained the
news from the American press.
i s'Yet, when I received the invitation
, to joint the new movement some week;
: ago, was given to understand:
"'A number of American citizens o1
German blood, among them William
a Forster, president of the New Yorl
Licderkranz; Hugo Ritterbusch, presi
dent of the Arion Society; Julius Holz
e publisher of the "New Yorker Herold"
{ Bernard Ridder, publisher of the "Nev
Yorker Staats-Zcitung" George Seibel
editor of the Pittsburg "Volksblatt une
Freiheitsfreund"; Henry Vollmer, O.
= Davenport, Iowa, and myself (Herma,
!, Hagedorn) have decided to form Ma
tional Council Of Americans of Germa,
Origin
George Seibel, mentioned in thi
3 quotation, is the former editor of tn
bulletin published by the defupct Ger
:, man American Alliance"