The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-17
ATTY. Lynn SMITH
DELIVERS ADDRESS
BEFORE next OF KIN
Jefferson Attorney Describes Duties
of the Organization and Speaks
Also Matters Of Timely
Interest.

Attorney Lynn Smith Of Jefferson
gave a stirring address before the
Next of Kin" organization, branch
of the Wisconsin Loyalty Legion,
Tuesday evening at the city hall His
subject for the evening was the Duties
of the Next of Kin, but he drifted
somewhat away from this and opened
his address by describing the govern
ment of Germany today.
"This war deals with the phases of
government and to understand the
war, we must have a comprehensive
idea of the government" he said.
In 1871 Germany was organized into
a confederation, comprising twenty
| five states and at the head of this En-
porer Wilhelm was put of the Hohen-
| zOllern family. From that time on the
Hohenzollerns continually ruled, keep
ing always in mind the term war Even
when Bismarck ruled the predominant
and paramount thought was war. The
people in Germany did not want this
war, but the kaiser and royal family
wanted it, he declared. What power
have the people got in Germany in
voting? Nothing. The congress is
composed of the Bundesrat and
to our senate and the Reichstag to
our house of representatives. The
Reichstag is always heard in connec-
ton with politics in this country, but
why don't we hear about the Bundles
rat? he questioned. Because the Bun
desrat holds it's meetings behind closed
doors. Did you ever hear of the like?
A modern, civilized government to do
this, but it is actually being done, he
proclaimed. The Bundesrat, keep in
mind, is composed of twO-thirds of it's
members elected by the upper class,
and onethird elected by the peasants
and paupers. But isn't the Reichstag
composed Of 400 members elected by
the people who, sit in session? Some
may ask. Yes, declared the speaker,
but the Reichstag cannot make law
alone but it has to go before the Bun
desrat and kaiser for their approval
And it sure does have to meet with
the kaiser's approval before it becomes
law, he said. The kaiser can declare
a defensive war without even the con-
sent of the houses, but if it be an Of
fensive war, he must get the permits
sion of the upper house. But who
started the conflict with Belgium in
1914? The kaiser hurled his troops
against the poor Belgtans and three
days later notified the Bundesrat that
he had declared war on Belgium, he
said.
The war Lords fought war with Aus
tria, Denmark and France. In the last
war Germany getting Alsace Lorraine
In all these wars the kaiser brought
home to the people the bacon. And
in this war the kaiser again will try
to bring home to his people some more
bacon. But as the present outlook ap-
pears on the Western front there will
be someone else besides the kaiser to
bring home the bacon, he declared. We
have now more than 100000 boys in
France and about One-half a million
on the seas, he said. Back in 1917
when Uncle Sam was just starting,
some bully-heads said it could never
be done, but thanks to Uncle Sam for
what he has done, he said
Establish counter-prOpaganda bu-
reau, aimed at Pro-Germans and Anti
American activities and elect loyal
men to offices is one of the duties of
the Next Of Kim, and Attorney Smith
skillfully handled this when he switch
ed his talk over to the subject of pol
itics. He critisiZed Congressman
Weight and Governor Philip, as he
claims, for their un-American ideas.
One of the duties of this organiza-
ton is to see that only loyal men re-
turn to office and this applies most
fittingly to a change in the offices held
by Philip and Voigt, the former the
governor of the state and Voight, con-
gresham from the Second congress-
ional district. Senator Wilcox who
represents 100 per cent Americanism
should be elected as governor he said.
Attorney Smith urged the members
to write letters to their boys and near
relatives. In Jefferson when the Wis
consin Loyalty Legion was just being
VI 6ohiACu, L IAou6uL W LuyS0lt, HOW
Americas organization will soon make
Germany's efficiency tumble" he said.
In America the highest honor of the
country is open to anyone who is will
ing to work, president of the United
States. Time and again this office has
been occupied by men who were reared
from the poorest homes. But in Ger
many, members of the royalty family
are only eligible. Compare democracy
and autocracy, and choose for your
self, he declared
Attorney Smith gave well-spoken
address and the fifty-five members who
attended certainly appreciated it.
Attorney Smith concluded his talk
by quoting an inscription that appear
! ed at the tomb Of French soldier.
The following new members were
enrolled Tuesday evening: Mrs. Leo
Ruesch, William Sproesser, J. w. Cru
ger, c. J. Salick, Miss Anna Treixler,
Leonare Salick, Mrs. H. Flint, Mrs.
julius Podolski, Mrs. A. Kress, A. J..
carlin, Mrs. W. d. Sproesser, Mrs E..
j. Carroll.