Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-12
ALLIANCE
BY BREWERS
TO ELECT SLATE
Pennsylvania Branch Closely
Allied With 'Wets," Rec
ordS Indicate

Washington, March 12.-The Ma
tional German-American Alliance, as
it is organized in Pennsylvania, has
shown a deeper interest in stem
ming the tide of prohibition senti-
ment than in fostering pro-German
propaganda, it was shown at yester-
days hearing by the Senate judiciary
committee on the King bill to re-
woke the alliances charter.
E. Lowry Humes, United States
attorney at Pittsburgh, who exposed
the brewers slush fund used in
Pennsylvania political campaigns,
was the principal witness. He de-
clared that after several years in
quiry into the activities of the Glli-
ance in Western Pennsylvania he
concluded that it's principal business
was fighting prohibition. The am
munitions used, he said, was largely
checks from the brewing interests
Mr.. Hines gave the committee Il
record of the minutes of the Allie
gheny County German-American Al
lance covering the years 1914, 1915
and 1916. These records are steep
ed in references to the alliances
fight against prohibition, and the
names of many persons prominent in
the political life of Pennsylvania are
mentioned.
On January 81, 1916, they record
the fact that replies from Senator'S
Penrose and Oliver and Mr.. Garland
have been received acknowledging
the interest of the alliance in pro-
| hibition measures" The Garland
referred to is Congressman-at-lar
Mahlon M. Garfield, of Pittsburgh.
Early in 1916, according to the
minutes, the alliance began to pick
I ifg Iaf 20. IN
slate prepared in advance of the
primary elections shows that the first
choice of the alliance for President
of the United States was Henry Ford,
who a while previously piloted the
peace ship Oscar II and the peace
party to Europe.
Part of Slate Won
The choice of the alliance for
United States senator from Pennsyl-
vania, according to the minutes, was
Philander c. Knox, who won. For
congressmen-a -at-large from Pennsyl-
vania the alliance chose Messrs. Cra-
go, Garland and Mclaughlin, who
were nominated by the Republicans
and elected, and the fourth choice
was Isadore Stern, of the Fifth ward
of Philadelphia, a representative in
the Legislature, who was not nomi-
mated, but who is again candidate.
Joseph Keller, of indianapolis,
Vice-president of the National Ger
man-American Alliance, also wit
ness, to-day, categorically admitted
that the activities of the alliance dur
ing the last five or ten years were
totally at variance with the specific
purposes for which the organization
was granted charter by Congress.
Mr.. Keller, who has lived in Amer
lea for thirty-six years, is mem
ber of the school board of Indiana
polls. He is also chairman of the
organization and propaganda com
mittee of the alliance, and in that
capacity directed the expenditure CT
funds contributed by brewers to
create and foster sentiment against
prohibition legislation in eight west
ern states and against the election
of candidates pledged to prohibi-
ton.
Senator Sterling, of South Dakota,
read the terms of the charter grant
ed to the alliance by Congress. These
terms outline the purposes of the
organization and they include the
| conservation of the principles of rep
| resentative government, the protec-
ton and maintenance of all civil
and political rights, the protection of
German immigrants, the study of
American history and institutions
and the cultivation of the German
language, literature and drama.
Admits Change of Object
SO far as you know" asked Sena-
tor Sterling, the principal activities
of the alliance have been political,
intended to influence opinion in the
several states in behalf of the brew
ers and liquor dealers. Is that
right?"
Yes, sir" was the reply.
AS a matter of fact" continued
the senator, you collected and dis
tributed funds for none of the pur-
poses set out as those for which the
| German-American Alliance was
formed, did you?"
NO" answered Keller, except
that several books on German Amer
| ican history have been published"
Since the moment America went
| to war with Germany l have advo-
Gated complete loyalty to this coun-
| try's cause upon all German Amer
leans with whom 1 have come in
! contact" he asserted. Right after
the war started 1 asked the Indiana
polls City Alliance, of which 1 am
the head, to give $100 to the Amer
| ican Red Cross, which was done.
Later I urged that the alliance give
its entire wealth, 800, toward the
purchase of Liberty Bonds, and this
has been done. MY two boys vol
unteered in the American army and
are there now. Every member of
my family has purchased Liberty
Bonds as patriotic duty That in
cludes myself. We are all members
of the American Red Cross and
personally have been a member for
many years. 1t is grossly unfair that
] should be attacked as a German
from my own home city"
propagandist by senders of kilograms