The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-11-07
The Kaiser as Knew Him for Fourteen Years



return home.
Ny second reason for wanting to get
out Of Germany rs soon as possible
was the fact that food conditions in
Germany were becoming more pre-
carious every cay. Ny wife and I
feared that u child, who was two
years old, might suffer from lack Of
proper nourishment II we remained
and I determined that no matter how
long It might be necessary for me to
remain In Berlin, my wife and child
Mt any rnte should leave at the earliest
possible moment.
Ny third reason, however, was by
far the most insistent Of oil.
I had become convinced that what I
knew Of the kaiser and his plans, now
that we were ut war, ought to be COM
munlcated to America without delay
and that the only why to do that ade-
quately would be to get home as soon
az I possibly could. no matter what
personal sacrifice might be involved In
abandoning my European practice and
interests.
1t 10 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 was frequently
brought up because of the fact that I
was an American.
One memorable interview I had had
with him Influenced me perhaps more
than any other single factor to hasten
the settlement Of my European affairs
and return home.
1t was In the fall Of 1910. 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 I had just returned from q
visit to America made him more than
usually eager for q 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 majesty"
asked.
"Why 10 It that your country IL q
unfair to Germany Why do you per
sist In supplying munitions and money
to the alliesf 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
selves3 You do not ship munitions Il
us. why do you ship them to the othel
side?"
i was on such terms with the kalsel
that l did not hesitate to answer hi
question with another.
II have always understood, you
majesty. that during the Russian-Jap
anese war. Germany continually sup
piled munitions to Russia. Why wa
that any more justifable than Americ,
supplying munitions to the allies
Then again, In the Spanish-Americal
-"
"Davis, you surprise mel" the kai
interrupted. rising from the oper
ating chair, In which he had remained
walking towards me, throwing bacl
his shoulders and rising to his full
height. 1.-THE cases are entirely differ
ent. When we helped Russia agains
japan we vert helping a white rae
against q yellow race, don't ever fol
get that-don't ever forget that. Blu
with America. that Is certainly not tn
case. Your country Is acting froE
purely mercenary motives. 1t ic
case of dollars, dollars, dollars r"-an
each time he repeated the word h
struck his partially helpless left han
violently with his powerful RICH,
america values dollars more than sh
values German livesl She thinks
right to shoot down my people,"
He had worked himself up to a d.
gree Of indignation which l had see
him display only on two or three pre-
vious occasions. and l must confess
was reluctant to start q fresh outburs
by answering his arguments. HI
eyes, usually soft and kindly. fiashe
fire as he advanced towards me an
slowly and incisively declared: "Davii
America must = be - punished :
f0r-her-actions"
In that expression, which he repea'
ed ON subsequent occasions In pr'
cisely the same words and with tn
same measured emphasis. / knew thu
he revealed mostly clearly what his a
titude was and will ever be towar
this country.