The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-08-01

TO De taken Dy luuldu prices Will,
after our conquest, flow in golden
stream into the Fatherland. In all
the richest lands Of the earth the
German flag will fly over every other
flag"
Finally the Emperor concluded:
81 am making you no promises that
can not be redeemed, and they shs
be redeemed if you are not prepared
to make the sacrifices which are nee
essary to secure the position that our
country must and shall occupy in the
world. He who refuses to help is a
traitor to the Fatherland; he who
helps willingly and generously will
have his rich reward"
All sounded, I admit, tempting and
alluring, and though there were some
who viewed rather obviously the
prospect Of Germany being able to
conquer the world in year, the ma
jority Of businss and commercial
men agreed to support the Hohenzol-
lern war plans. Most Of the have
since wished that they had never paid
any attention to them.
According to the promises of the
Hohenzollern, victory was to have
been achieved in December, 1915, and
the promises made to myself, and
other commercial men in Germany
when our money for the Kaiser's war
chest was wanted were to have
then redeemed.
Charges Imperial Blackmail.
But this is what has happened in
reality: In December of 1916 the
chancellor, Bethmann-H ollweg, began
to have interviews once more with
business men. The purpose of these
interviews was to get more money
from them. Guarantees were asked
from twenty-five business men in
Germany, including myself, that they
would undertake to subscribe 200,-
0OO, 900 pounds to the next war loan.
I was personally asked to guarantee
subscription of 100000 pounds. I
declined to give this guarantee; so did
some other. I was then favored with
private interview with Bethmann-
Hollweg's private secretary, who told
me that if I declined to give the guar
antee and subsequently the money /
would lose on a contract I had with
the War Office. But not only that =
I was threatened with the practical
ruin of my business if I did not give
the guarantee.
I described this demand as black
mail of the worst sort and refused to
guarantee mark to the war loan.
Two months later lost my contract,
and the greater part Of my business
had been taken over at a figure that
means confscation. Moreover, I am
not to get paid until after the war, but
am to receive per cent on the pur-
chase price. Every man who declined
to promise a subscription to the
amount he was asked has been treat
ed in the same manner.
The majority of men, however, pre-
ferred to pay rather than to be ruin
ed, and so the Hohenzollerns in, the
main got their way. But, apart from
the Matchmaking of men who refused
to pay any more money into the Hob
enzollern war chest, let US see how
Hohenzollsrn's promises are working
out. A circular was sent out last
March to a large number of busine
men by the Foreign Trade Depart
ment which contained the following
suggestion:
Preparing For The Reckoning.
1t will be wise for employers who
have foreign trade interests to en-
ploy agents in foreign countries who
can pass themselves off as being of
French or English birth. German ag-
ents and travellers will probably for
some time after the war have difficult
| ty in doing business not only in enemy
countries, but in neutral coun-
tries. There will undoubtedly be a
personal prejudice against Germans
that would probably make it difficult
for representatives of German firms to
do business. ALTHOUGH this prejudice
will not interfere with German trad~
as it will be merely of a personal
character, it will facilitate trading
transactions if employers will em-
ploy agents who pass as French o.
English, perfectly, or as Dutch,
American, or Spanish"
So this is the prospect we are faced
with after the war. The meaning of
this circular in plain language is this:
So loathed and hated have German
become outside their own country
no one will want to have any personal
dealings with them after the war. IL
A large number Of businesses are,
moreover, being secretely bolstered
with state aid. A condition of that
aid is that the owners of the business
receiving it shall agree to accep
considerable degre eof state control
over their business after the war.
This is part and parcel of plan on
the part of the Hohenzollerns to get
the commercial classes thoroughly in
to the grip before the end of the war,
and SO minimize the chances of a